blood of friege

closed arthur. golden deer student at the officer's academy

[zephyntus]

ARTHUR from GENEAOLOGY written by LEON & affiliated with TOA. wind mage with the minor blood of the crusader thrud & student of the golden deer. a studious mind attending the officer's academy in order to become stronger and protect his sister tine.

PINNED GRAPHIC by ALINA.

[ muse | mun | stats ]

[mourningcomess]

under your wing I follow

[mourningcomess]

A strange club of occult-enthusiasts calling themselves “The Ghosthunters” suddenly appears and attempts to scout some help for the investigation of an old, almost completely disfigured statue in the middle of the forest. They claim there have been multiple sightings of the “ghost” in this area, and that it has something to do with the statue. Or it could be a wild boar scaring some villagers at night, but The Ghosthunters are one-hundread-percent sure that it’s a ghost. Grab your ghost-hunting equipment (a pair of good boots and a regular weapon, really) and a friend if you’re feeling scared, and unravel the mystery behind this rumor!

It'd been a few days since her arrival, but no sign of Arthur anywhere. Tine's older brother did not specify in his letter where he would be and it was not as if they had a point of contact. She just did not expect the academy to be this.....this grand! The monastery bustled with students, knights, nuns, faculty, and more. It was a little disheartening, to be honest - Tine's small optimism shrinking already. How could she find him?

As she made her way across the hallways after today's reason lesson - a day spent furiously scribbling in her notes - the sound of laughter echoes on the walls and plays on her ears. The timbre holds a familiarity close to home, but the mage wants little to do with a classroom full of laughing students. Still, she is curious, and peeks her head in from the side.

No. It can't be. Her heart nearly fails itself as she sees the image of her brother among the company. Should she be happier? She has finally found him after wandering for days, and yet, how will she gain his attention?

"Arthur," Tine calls, but it is nothing more than a child's whisper. She will need more than that to gain his attention. Violet pigtails shake back and forth as shame washes over her. After finally having found him, this is what holds her back? Pathetic.

One more time. Tine breathes in and out slowly. "Arthur," she calls, voice a little bit more pronounced. Maybe he'd hear her... [@zephyntus]

[zephyntus]

it is hard to seperate himself from his sister when he had gone so long without his family— taken so long just trying to find her. however, it was a necessary evil if he was going to get stronger. if he was going to be able to support her properly in the future. ( a noble academy like garreg mach was the perfect opportunity to learn the ins and outs of politesse as a young man with no experience as a prince. him, a prince. how laughable. )

as much as he tries, it is impossible not to think of her. wondering if she was doing okay back in friege, if she was able to speak her mind and stand up to herself. bragi, this was so much easier when he didn't know what she was like. even as he stands there and tries to focus on the conversation with his peers.

her voice does not catch him on the first try, but on the second he pauses, turning to look at the doorway of the golden deer classrooms. his eyes widen in surprise at the sight of his sister.

and just like that he is pushing away all other obligations, hurrying to her side. "tine!?" he says her name in a clearly bewildered tone— because this hadn't been discussed. then again, it was probably his fault for leaving her with just a mere letter... still!

"what are you doing here!?"

[zephyntus]

what are you doing at the devil's sacrament — arthur & ishtar

[deamare]

For a heartbeat she hesitates. In another life this was a battlefield, one that she was meant to take to with all the wrath of a daughter made an orphan.

In this one she is afraid. All of that wrath has turned to grief, heavy on her shoulders and leaden in her chest, and it has left her the hollow shell of a girl that was once known for a goddess. If he challenges her then she will surrender, and with her will die the last scrap of her family's pride.

Though perhaps that had gone long ago.

With a shaky breath she steps forward, eyes downcast and hands clasped at her chest. She does not look up at him, does not wish to see what anger awaits her.

"Does this satisfy you?"

[zephyntus]

it is hard to control himself, seeing her face and connecting it to her voice. "it seems you weren't lying." his body tenses, arthur clenching his fist and staring her down with the eyes of the chrusader thrud. she is not someone to hate, but nor is she someone that he can find the righteous energy to forgive.

maybe if he was tine, kind as she is, he could do it.

but he isn't. he was the exact opposite of her if anything. the only true kindness that resides in his heart is for her and her only. "you couldn't stay dead, could you! trying to get a look at the prisoner, huh?" he scoffs, placing a hand on his hip and looking away from her. "being hilda's daughter, i'm sure you're planning to use this pasithee woman for some nefarious deed. sure wouldn't surprise me."

[zephyntus]

february 2024  → passed

skill points  → `7 to 8

reason  → C to C(1/2)

[zephyntus]

what are you doing at the devil's sacrament — arthur & ishtar

[deamare]

So he had not seen her then. Ishtar's lips thin. She could have run, she still can.

Does she deserve to hide from his anger? Would he kill her? Would he be right for it?

"My name..." The world feels slow, her breathing shallow. By now she should be well acquainted with the anger of those who had been made to suffer by the sins of her mother-- her father, her lover, herself-- and yet still she trembles with a childish hope for understanding. For a forgiveness she has done nothing to earn.

Not a step is taken towards the light. She cannot see him, and he cannot see her. It will be easier this way. There is still deniability this way. She can still run this way.

Even though she knows that she will not.

"Is Ishtar, of House Friege."

[zephyntus]

ishtar of house friege.

his eyes widen, the world seeming to come to a stop around him. the mere mention of house friege is enough to set his veins on fire. that damn house that wronged his mother and sister in every way it possibly could. his expression settles into a grimace.

ishtar of house friege is dead.

"show yourself." he hisses, trying to keep himself calm. if there is one thing he has not been able to keep in check through strategy and tactics, it is his emotions. "i cannot believe you are who you say you are, ishtar of house friege, until i see your face."

[zephyntus]

what are you doing at the devil's sacrament — arthur & ishtar

[deamare]

She has roamed dungeon halls since she was but a child, eyes still too wide and hands still too clean. At mother's hip she had been paraded, meant to admire the sunken faces of her family's trophies. And then, on braver nights, she had learned to wander those cellars on her own. Sometimes with bread smuggled from dinner, others with nothing more than her heart.

But her heart had always been so feeble.

And so it is still, beating an erratic staccato beneath her palm as she moves along the shadows. There were whispers of a girl here, caged for her sin and made to suffer for all the hurt she had wrought. Ishtar had thought to write it off, to ignore the way that something warm settled within her at the idea of someone that might understand. But curiosity, or perhaps her child's heart, would know no rest until she knew.

The cell itself is rather easy to distinguish. Kept as far down in the catacombs as possible and one of so few that still remain occupied, Ishtar has little trouble. She has accounted for the guards already, guessed at their shifts and at when it is that she might get her chance.

She had not, however, accounted for who the guard may be.

With a sharp inhale, Ishtar presses her back flat to the stone wall. The rhythm of her heart has grown impossibly faster, racing as she tries to assure herself that it was her imagination. Arthur was a boy she knew only vaguely, heard about in murmurs from Tine or orders from mother.

But she knew him. She knew him as any girl would know her own blood, her father's killer.

"I do not wish to fight," Ishtar breathes, not daring to crane her head and peer at the memory that awaits her at the end of the hall, "I just... wanted to see her."

[zephyntus]

the voice that replies is hesitant…. scared, not necessarily. arthur narrows his eyes, noting the way they seem to refuse to show themselves. they just want to see her? "is that right?" he hums, relaxing and withdrawing his hand from its position over his tome.

in any case, he finds himself in no danger that he doesn't think he'd survive. ( he'd lived by himself all those years in silesse afterall. ) "i don't know what kind of prisoner this pasithee is, but you do realize that could mean any number of things, no?"

a pause and a casual tilt of the head. perhaps he could use this person to his benefit, if things worked out. "why don't you show yourself first? or give me a name perhaps? can't exactly trust a person i don't know the name or face of."

[zephyntus]

what are you doing at the devil's sacrament — arthur & ishtar

[zephyntus]

@deamare (girl help)

his instructions were clear and precise. do not approach the prisoner's cell. do not interact with the prisoner whatsoever. he'd taken the mission and sworn to them that he would follow their rules no matter what with a clenched fist.

he'd played the part of an earnest new student willing to do whatever the church was asking of him— and they were fools for believing that part. prisoner and hostage situations put a bad taste in his mouth, reminding him of his late mother's final years before her death. there was no chance in hell that he was just going to stand there and do nothing.

arthur crosses his arms together over his chest, brow furrowing in thought. doing this was going to be risky, and he had to be careful of who saw him breaking his ... pact so to speak.

speaking of someone seeing him, his thoughts go on momentary pause. from his standing position in front of the cell room door, the top of a purple haired head peaking out is an obvious sight.

he is a normal well adjusted person— he does not think anything of the particular color— because anyone he could possibly think of was either dead or back home in grannvale.

"...." one arm lands on his hip, the other hovering over the thunder tome clipped to his waist in preparation for danger. the church didn't tell him what kind of prisoner pasithee was, but being guarded 24/7 was enough to tell him to keep his wits about him.

[zephyntus]

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

emoji headcanon prompts

arthur is a big fan of practical presents most. he has something like a straightforward mind so anything he can make use of from a day to day basis he'd be happy to receive. he also wouldn't say this to anyone but tine, but if it's from someone he loves (platonically or romantically) he doesn't really care what you get him. he appreciates anything at that point, because its the thought that counts.

is he good at gift giving? honestly... it depends on the person. if you think like him then chances are you'll receive a good gift. he basically approaches gift giving like it's a game of chess, so he gives out what someone might get the most out of.

he's basically the type of person to get you socks for christmas, especially if he doesn't know you well at all LMAO

[charmymemes]

𝐎𝐂 𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐉𝐈 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐒!

feel free to tweak questions + all emojis r listed in text form bc i can't see some of them aAAaaAA! sorry if any of these questions are too similar i tried to avoid that but .. there's a lot lol! categorized by emoji type.

i wanted to make one because i could not find one on tumblr already that had a ton of questions. this was created by combining ones under the #oc ask game tag + my own contributions. hi charmymemes nation i'm back.

people

👁️ EYE - what colour are their eyes? do people notice their eyes? is there anything special about them (shows emotion easily, literally magical...)?

🤥 LYING - are they good liars? do they have tells to show they're lying?

👻 GHOST - do they believe in ghosts? what are their "ghostly experiences", if any?

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

😭 CRYING - what makes them cry? do they cry easily?

👊 PUNCH - are they quick to violence?

💢 ANGER - what are some habits they have that will take some getting used to?

👪 FAMILY - what is their family like? what is your ocs relationship to them? does your oc have any siblings?

😨 FEARFUL - when scared, do they go into "flight" or "fight"?

💤 SLEEPING - do they fall asleep easily? what helps them sleep?

food & drinks

🥞 PANCAKE - what is their comfort breakfast?

🎂 BIRTHDAY CAKE - when is their birthday? do they like celebrating it?

🍩 DONUT - favourite sweet treat?

🍟 FRIES - do they order food often? or they prefer to cook their own food?

☕️ HOT BEVERAGE - do they prefer hot or cold drinks? what is their favourite drink?

🍓 STRAWBERRY - do they eat their fruit & veg? what is their favourite fruit or vegetable?

🍰 CAKE SLICE - favourite cake flavour? are they specific about types of cakes?

🍧 SHAVED ICE - do they still have any objects from their childhood? what significance does it have to them? what would their reaction be if they lost it?

plants & nature

💐 BOUQUET - create a bouqet for them! what do those flowers mean? are any of the flowers their particular favourite?

🌙 MOON - what is your oc's greatest wish? how far are they willing to go for it?

🌋 VOLCANO - how bad is their temper? is it a slow boil, or a instant explosion?

🌺 HIBISCUS - do they have any allergies?

🍁 MAPLE LEAF - what is their favourite season? why?

🍃 FALLING LEAF - do they enjoy being in nature? what is their favourite outdoor activity?

☀️ SUN - are they a morning person? what is the first thing they do in the morning?

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

🌹 ROSE - do they like valentines day? have they been confessed to before? have they confessed to anyone before?

🙈 SEE-NO-EVIL - whats a side of your oc that they don't want to show other people?

🙊 SPEAK-NO-EVIL - what is something your oc will refuse to stay quiet about?

🙉 HEAR-NO-EVIL - what is the worse thing your oc could hear from someone?

🌱 SEEDLING - what is their most vivid memory from childhood?

🍀 CLOVER - do they believe in luck? are they lucky?

🌏 EARTH - will they give up the world for someone they love? is this decision easy for them?

🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them?

activity

⚾ BASEBALL - can they play sports? what is their best position if they play a team sport? what's their strong suit (speed, power etc.)?

🏊 SWIMMING - can they swim? or are they afraid of water? how well do they swim? how do they feel about swimming in the ocean?

objects

📣 MEGAPHONE - how loud are they? what do they speak like? got a voice claim?

📖 OPEN BOOK - do they like reading? what's their favourite genre?

🪤 MOUSE TRAP - what will always lure them into certain danger? a loved one in danger? a promise of something they are always searching for?

📸 CAMERA - do they enjoy having their picture taken? what's their go-to pose? do they like taking photos? what do they take photos of?

🎭 MASKS - do they act differently around certain people? what's different between the way they act around friends, family, strangers, etc.?

✂️ SCISSORS - what is the "last straw" for them to cut someone out of their life? how easily do they let go of people?

💡 LIGHTBULB - is your oc a planner? do they write down every small detail or just wing it?

💎 DIAMOND - how rich are they? can they live the lifestyle they want to?

🎁 PRESENT - what types of presents would they be most happy to receive? are they good at gift giving?

🍼 BABY BOTTLE - what are their thoughts on children?

🔪 KNIFE - how do they react to injury / misfortune befalling their loved ones (significant other, family, friends)? do they put themselves at blame?

👑 CROWN - what does your oc want to be remembered as? why?

✏️ PENCIL - is there a particular quote / lyric that you associate with them?

🎵 MUSIC NOTE - what is their playlist like? their favourite artists? do you associate a particular song with them?

🎤 MICROPHONE - are they good at singing? what is their go-to karaoke song?

🎷 SAXOPHONE - do they play any instruments? are they any good at it?

📚 BOOKS - how were they at school? what is their best subject? what is their worst subject? do they have a favourite subject?

👖 JEANS - what is their go-to outfit?

🎨 PALETTE - can they draw? what do they like to draw?

🎡 FERRIS WHEEL - are they someone who wants to kiss at the top of the ferris wheel?

⏳ HOURGLASS - are they usually late or on-time?

🔫 PISTOL - do they trust people easily? how easily will they turn their back to someone? have they been backstabbed before? will they betray someone if given an ultimatum?

🎀 RIBBON - how would they fit into other worlds / aus? what aus would you like to try out? what fictional world would they fit / not fit into?

📎 PAPERCLIP - a random fact.

📦 PACKAGE - what are some "most likely to..." that can apply to them?

🖍️ CRAYON - what advice would you give to them?

⚙️ GEAR - what are your ocs thoughts on science & art? which do they give more importance to? how much value do they place on each?

🔧 WRENCH - are they good at fixing relationships? or do they tend to avoid doing so?

❇️ SPARKLE - what is their most prized possession? what do they value?

📏 RULER - is your oc well educated? where did they get their learning from?

transport

🚆 TRAIN - what is their answer to the trolley problem?

🚲 BICYCLE - can they ride a bike? what do they remember from learning to ride a bicycle?

weather

🌩️ LIGHTNING - are they scared of lightning?

💧 DROPLET - random angst headcanon

❄️ SNOWFLAKE - do people consider them cold? if so, what made them this way?

🌪️ TORNADO - what is the biggest change you've ever made to them? how have they changed from their original version?

🌈 RAINBOW - what advice would they give to their younger self?

🔥 FIRE - do they have any self destructive tendencies? what habits do they have that hinder them from becoming their best self?

☁️ CLOUD - a soft headcanon

🌟 GLOWING STAR - what do they think about when they look at the night sky? is there someone they want to star gaze with?

🌠 SHOOTING STAR - if they could make any wish with no repercussions, what wish would they make?

☄️ COMET - what do people assume about them? are they right?

hearts

💓 BEATING HEART - what gets their heart racing?

💘 HEART W/ ARROW - what traits do they look for in a relationship? do they believe in love at first sight?

💗 GROWING HEART - if they have a crush, is it noticable? what changes when they're in love?

❤️ RED HEART - their love language(s)?

💙 BLUE HEART - do they miss their s/o easily? how do they act when their s/o isn't around?

💚 GREEN HEART - what things make your oc feel comforted? hugs, kisses, food?

💖 SPARKLING HEART - are they a subtle or a showy lover?

💌 LOVE LETTER - do they like love letters? what kind of messages do they leave for their partner?

💔 BROKEN HEART - what could their partner do that would absolutely break their heart?

[zephyntus]

through the brick wall

pirrhyc​:

   “ My name is Micaiah, ”  the voice replies to Arthur’s question. Pelleas, meanwhile, replies to this revelation by sputtering incomprehensibly, eyes practically bulging out of his skull to hear that name of all names.

It’s not a bad impression of her voice, but still…!!

Heedless of Pelleas’s reaction, perhaps maybe even that the stranger isn’t able to notice it through the wall, she continues:

“ As for your other question, you could say hmm… I’ve fallen on some terribly difficult times. ”  Her voice pulls on the heartstrings, melancholic note in her tone.  “ My debts to this town are not easy to clear. But you two… you’re at odds with the town as well, aren’t you? ”

“ Wow, this is just like the real deal. ”  Had they told this Micaiah that? He can’t remember. But if he hadn’t met the real Micaiah already, he might’ve thought this was the real one with such skills at divination!

…Forgetting the fact it was a bit obvious because of their also being put in jail. You know how it is.

“ Let’s help each other out, hmm? I help you get out of this cell, you let me go… Pretty fair deal, if I do say so myself. ”

well, this is all kinds of suspicious.

if he were perhaps by himself, he might have been tricked into believing the person on the other side. pelleas’ reaction however, makes it all too clear to him that there is definitely not something right with this ‘micaiah’ woman. on one hand this might be their only chance out of the place, on the other hand in the worst case scenario they could be put to death here.

he doesn’t say anything to ‘micaiah’, scooting away from the wall and closer to his jail mate. “from that reaction just now it seems like you know her.” he whispers plainly, an effort to conceal the conversation from the woman. “and if i’m right, do you think we can trust her?”

“this is a limited time deal you two.” the woman calls from the other side of the wall and arthur rolls his eyes. he wouldn’t be pressured by such a thing like a time limit.

can’t say the same for pelleas, though.

[zephyntus]

she knows that this is a place beyond her deserving, and yet Ishtar is pulled by the lull of old memories, a sweet croon that beckons her to remember.

.

what she would not give to have them again. to be with them again. Oh, Arthur. Oh, Tine.....She had been so foolish.

it is too much to ask to wish him a happy birthday. and of course, she remembers his birthday. how could she not? he was like a little brother to her. so she sits from the shadows and waits for him to leave.

and placing a small bundle of forget me nots on his doorstep. it's likely that he'll do better without her in his life. all she asks is that she can watch him from a distance and smile. knowing that he is safe and doing well.

she cannot be his older sister anymore...

she does not deserve this...

nevertheless, her heart blooms with smiles. today is his day, and she shall find her own way to celebrate. to remember the Friege.

a small smile wraps around her lips. Happy Birthday Arthur

And, just as the petals leave her fingertips, she makes herself unknown.

upon return from a birthday lunch with his mother and father ( he still hasn't gotten over the feeling of even being in his parent's presence) he is... surprised to say the least to see a bundle of forget me nots at his door.

his arrival at the monastery was well within days of his birthday— so he certainly wasn't expecting an abundance of presents. this was not something at all that he lamented over, and seeing his parents again was as good enough a surprise present as any he could receive.

he frowns, kneeling to pick up the forget-me-nots and handling with with a surprising amount of care. they were fresh too, so placed at his doorstep recently. a quick glance in his vicinity is held but there is not a single trace of someone else to be seen.

"hm." he scoffs in amusement. "thanks for the flowers, i guess." he isn't sure why he says it aloud, but regardless he takes the forget-me-nots with him as he enters his dorm room. might as well find a vase to keep them safe in.

[zephyntus]

What present do you get for the son you never watched grow up?

Azelle scraps a dozen different ideas. None of them feel personal enough; instead, everything comes off as him making a clumsy attempt at being a father.

So he abandons all of them except one, wrapping his present neatly.

Mid-morning finds him searching the ground for Arthur, box in hand. He finally spots him near their classroom. "Good morning, Arthur," he greets warmly, offering his present. "Happy birthday."

(Inside rests an expertly crafted white cape, one meant for keeping warm during winter. Every mage needs a sturdy cloak, after all.)

"Would you like to have lunch together to celebrate? I'm sure your mother will join us as well."

"oh. you remembered." he blinks once or twice, stating such a thing plainly due to the shock of it. even arthur himself often forgot entirely about his birthday. for most it is a day to be celebrated, but for arthur it's never been something he remembered fondly. years spent without a family to celebrate with had him bitter about it as a child and accepting of it as an adult. he simply would never have a birthday like other sons and daughters did. it was just another day to pass of the year.

but his father remembered despite everything. he goes quiet, accepting the gift with subtly trembling hands. had his father thought of this day every year it passed, wishing he could be there for him just as he himself did...?

"yes—" his voice cracks and he clears his throat. he already had his time being a child when they reunited in the library. he couldn't continue to act like that around anyone. "i would like that." a small smile takes to his face. "if it's not a burden on you guys."

[zephyntus]

make like a tree and leif

serraic​:

   Silence.

   “… Really?” 

   The man stares, face ever impassive, eyes boring into ‘Leif’s’. A beat, then, “That’s… interesting.” 

   He seems almost impressed! 

   “Isn’t it!” Serra’s chest swells with pride. “He knows more, too, and—”

   “Quiet, girl.” 

Eyes widen. Face reddens. Then, an explosion, unable to be controlled, rushing forth from her without thought. “H— how dare you! That’s no way to speak to a lady! Don’t you have any class?!” 

   The room is full of stoney-faced individuals. All eyes bore into Serra. (Maybe she feels heady, with that fact, and not in a great way. Maybe she’s scared, too, of her loud mouth, of the situations it lands her in.) There are frowns etched on each expression, clear in disapproval. A man standing next to the one seated reaches for his hilt and steps forward— 

   The man in the chair holds out a hand to stop him. 

   “You’re spirited,” he says, finally, breaking the silence. “I like that.” 

   The tension in the room eases, just a hair. Though Serra stands as though she’s prideful, her heart is still hammering in her chest. 

   “Give him the paper,” he commands to the person standing next to him. The person releases his hilt and brings forward a crumpled piece of paper, handing it to the white-haired boy with the spirited girl. 

   The leader nods at him. “Show us what you’ve got, then, boy.” 

the silence worries him, arthur’s gaze narrowing. it’s not as if that was a completely unknown fact— but then he isn’t sure what he expects from a troupe pretending to be very important noble characters, often of history in itself.

arthur immediately moves to stand in front of serra upon seeing one of them go for the hilt of their sword. his fingers flex and he almost abandons his own sword, ready to call upon the wind if it meant protecting her. the mage hardly manages to relax when their leader stops him, and even the paper handing to him he accepts with a wary gaze.

“... alright.” he finally relents, uncrumpling the paper to see what they wanted him to read off of. a quick reader from all his studies, it doesn’t take him long to memorize the few lines they wanted him to say. he couldn’t really see leif saying any of these, but if this is how they wanted him to act...

arthur clears his throat, moving to strike a heroic pose. his sword is pointed to the sky, and the fierce look on his face is thoroughly convincing. “everyone, we must fight! for the kingdom of leonster!” he yells, cheeks the slightest tinge of pink. “we have fought long and hard, we must not give up now! we will create a peaceful world, no matter what happens!”

.... barring the mention of leonster, he really thinks that’s something seliph would be saying. he coughs, clears his throat and lowers his sword. “...how was that?”

[zephyntus]

ignifilis​:

Pride warms his chest, sorrow quick on its heels. He’s glad Arthur found a way to stand on his own two feet–he only wishes there hadn’t been a need for such a thing.

Wind magic. Seems their family has made a tradition of fighting against their bloodlines.

Azelle laughs softly. "I will always worry about you, Arthur. You’re my son.” Arms tighten further as well, a hand cradling the back of Arthur’s head. It doesn’t matter if he’s nearly full grown now; they both need this, a comfort long denied.

“But we don’t have to fear any longer.”

‘you’re my son.’

he’s not sure what he expected to hear from his father, confessing of how he lived on his own for so long. when he was young he’d daydreamed what his father was like— what kind of person that his mother would marry and wait for eternally if she had to. it had never quite brought him to tears but it always made his heart ache in a way that he could never find the words to describe.

sometimes, he even bitterly wondered if his father would even acknowledge him as his own if he ever met him. it is only the knowledge that his mother would never marry such a terrible man that kept him from digging that hole further.

so to hear such words from his father. to be acknowledged in such an obvious way and yet in a way that he never thought he would hear— he sobs. audibly and without the will to hide his cries anymore. hands grasp tightly at the cloth against his father’s back.

he was his mother and father’s son. that was all he had needed to hear the entire time he had been alone.

[zephyntus]

make like a tree and leif

serraic​:

   “Sword?” 

   She blinks innocently. 

   “What sword? I thought you had it.” 

   A beat of them staring at each other. Two. Then, giggling hysterically, she unveils it and offers it to him, handle-side first. 

   “Okay, let’s go! Stand up straight, like a noble! Ready?” 

   She doesn’t wait for long before she pushes them through two curtains, hanging either side of a cavernous opening. 

   There’s already several other actors, stood in a line. The one at the front of the line performs rather woodenly for a man sat on a large, towering chair. He watches dispassionately. Mid-sentence, the man cuts off the performer, and directs them to the other side of the cavern, before nodding to the next in the line. 

    Oh… Being here was so real, all of the sudden. Watching the actors being filtered through so quickly stabs at a sort of concern. But… no! Serra gathers her confidence, balls her hands into triumphant fists on either side of herself. What does she have to worry about? They could do this! Absolutely, totally, amazingly— 

   “Next!”

   “Follow my lead, okay?” Serra says, and strikes out in front of him. 

   “Little lady,” grumbles the man sat in his chair. “We’re looking for men to play the role.” 

   “Of course! May I introduce to you: your new Leif!” She half-bows, bending to show him off. 

   Sharp eyes watch them, still unconvinced, undulating. 

   “He’s an actor from a far-off land!” she continues. “Specifically good at thinking on the spot! Your team would be incomplete without him, really…”

   “You don’t know my team.” His voice is dangerous, darkness ladened.

   “You don’t know my man,” she replies, clearly unfazed. “Any team would be incomplete without him. He has on-the-field experience in this sort of thing, you know! Just… in another land, far far away! In fact… he even knows things about Leif!” She turns to her ‘man’, beaming broadly. “Go on! Tell us a fact about Leif!”   

arthur can only manage a glare at her playful joke (now was not the time for this!) before he’s pushed forward through the curtains to the audition stage— something he would describe akin to a battlefield. his acting hinged on the mission going right, just as his magic hinged on him living another day at war. 

this would be fine. he could get through this. that’s what he thinks, but then  serra pushes out in front of him after saying to follow her lead. never mind, they’d be failing this mission. arthur stays silent while serra speaks to what he presumes is the leader of this troupe. his fingertips dance across the hilt of the blade as if to occupy himself, almost uncaring of how she puts herself in danger.

( though if she really were to get into something dangerous, he would risk a limb or two to keep her from dying. )

“uh.” the mage blinks at the sudden spotlight she’s thrown him further into. his mind goes to the very first thing he can thing of.  “well.... even though he has holy blood, he can’t exactly wield the gae bulg. rather, it’s only his sister who can.” a mere fact that he’d observed from listening to altena and leif talk in the background— he isn’t sure how that’s meant to satisfy the man in front of them.

[zephyntus]

ignifilis​:

Arthur’s hesitation lasts for what feels like minutes. Azelle understands, wishing so many things were different as his embrace is finally returned.

Such a simple statement that carries the weight of a lifetime. He nearly laughs at the absurdity of it. “I am glad I’m here, too.” Days removed from his stint in the infirmary, everything has taken on less of a dreamlike quality, yet he still has his moments.

Like now. A vision so similar to this reunion had kept him sane, helped him remember what exactly he was struggling for. He hopes–prays to every crusader listening–Arthur forgives him for eventually giving out.

“…I worried about you every single day I was trapped in that cell,” Azelle says softly, still clinging to his son. His son, here, alive. Their time together was cut far too short for him to let go so soon.

"... i made it on my own, father.” he admits slowly, something he allows himself to be more proud of around his father rather than his mother. “even.. even though i was separated from mother and tine, i became really strong. i learned wind magic and everything and then i eventually reunited with tine.”

and then this is when the tears manifest, where arthur becomes a child who tried far too long on his own to be an adult. there is an urge to prove himself to azelle, to prove that he was a strong man that had taken care of their family in place of their father who surely suffered alone. “so you don’t—” he sniffles, hugging azelle even tighter than before. he wishes he could have been there for his dad or his mom too.  “you don’t have to worry about me.”

[zephyntus]

sus.

lumenfilia​:

Her son smiles and she thinks that she understands love in an entirely new meaning. This is what it is to feel joy like all those stupid old books and poems tell it. This is what it is to be content. 

“Of course.” She understands the fear, shares in it. Rationale aside, she cannot stop the thought that he might simply vanish if she dares to look away from him, that this might all prove to be a dream. “I’ll write down where my office is for you, since they gave me one of those. My room, too, just in case.”

In case he needs her. In case he needs to remind himself that she was real.

“I’m not going anywhere, promise.”

as if just now realizing he’d said that out all out loud, his entire face flushes a brighter red than ever seen before. though he really is barely an adult himself, his brain seems to remind him that he can’t act like a child— not even in front of his mother who’d once cared for him when he was merely an infant. who reassured him it was okay to be a child after all he’d gone through.

arthur’s entire body stiffens as he speaks next. “no that’s erm— that’s okay mother.” he stutters, stumbles over his words. “i know that, don’t worry. i’m an adult, y’know.” he laughs awkwardly, rubbing at the back of his head and refusing to look his mother in the eye.

“i will contact you later with regards to the tea party.” then, he very quickly turns around so she only sees his back. “i’ll see you around mother!” 

and with that he darts off, refusing to let tailtiu get even a single word in about his behavior.

[END]