sorinethemastermind

[sorinethemastermind]

Dragon Prince has officially dropped Display Posters!!

[sorinethemastermind]

Look in my eyes and you’ll find my soul

In which something changes (but Soren isn't sure what yet). Co-written and edited by the amazing @honeii-puff! I write the Soren POV chapters, she writes the Corvus POV chapters. Also on Ao3 and it has a playlist!

Soren was ninety percent sure that something was up. Okay, eighty. But either way, something was definitely going on. Because Corvus was acting very un-Corvus-y. 

After he’d fetched Buckeye the group of them had forged across the river, Corvus trailing a little behind them. And seeing as Rayla was still giving him the occasional stink eye for not having told them about his plan, Soren had decided to join him.

“How’s the wrist?” he asked, falling into step beside his friend.

“It’s fine.” 

“Mhm.” Soren wasn’t convinced. “But like, is it fine or is it fine.”

“It’s fine, Soren.” Corvus told him.

Soren nodded. “Ah, yes. In that case, I suggest getting it checked out as soon as we make camp.”

“But I said-”

Soren just shook his head. “You’d do the same for me.”

“Yes. I suppose I would.” Corvus looked away. Probably to study, like, deer prints or something. 

After a few minutes of silence (oddly awkward silence, which was unusual for them) Soren cleared his throat. “So… how did, uh, King Ezran take it?”

Corvus’ already wandering gaze drifted farther away. “About as well as one would expect.”

“So… bad, then?”

“It could have been worse.” Corvus supplied, by way of explanation. The vaguer he was, the more anxious Soren felt.

“It will be fine, Soren. He’ll understand, once you tell him.”

“Yeah. Once I tell him.” Soren laughed a little under his breath, but it had the opposite effect he’d hoped and Corvus’ gaze swung in his direction.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“I’m not sure,” Corvus admitted. “But it’s your choice. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

Now it was Soren’s turn to look away. “Well, thanks.”

Silence descended again, and Soren tugged subconsciously at his scarf. Corvus’ scarf, he corrected himself. Which he was wearing. Still. Because Corvus had given it to him. Because Corvus cared-

“Do you want your scarf back?” he blurted.

“Um, why?”

“I don’t know. I just… figured… I’d offer?”

Corvus considered it. “No. You still need it. Anyway, it suits you. It brings out your eyes.”

“Oh.” Soren wasn’t really sure what to say to that, and Corvus seemed to notice, turning away to study the ground again.

“I, uh, am gonna go talk to Rayla real quick,” Soren said into the silence. “Make sure she knows where we’re going.”

“Good idea.”

Soren hurried on ahead, only glancing back at his friend a few times. 

He walked with Runaan and the lovebirds the rest of the way, helping to navigate (pretending he was helping them navigate). In reality, his thoughts seemed to be lingering on what was behind him on the trail rather than what was ahead.

Anyway, Rayla seemed to have the navigation mostly under control. 

She led them through woodland that was steadily becoming more and more alien to Soren; the trees growing taller, the brush thicker. Sometimes creatures would scamper through the underbrush that he had no recollection of ever seeing before. Familiar, but just strange enough to make him stare.

And yet he couldn't enjoy it because all he could think about was Corvus and not the fact that the squirrel he’d just seen had three tails. That was so many tails! He should really be staring at that and not glancing back over his shoulder to make sure his friend - who was perfectly capable of walking in a straight line - was doing okay.

It was weird and he wasn’t sure if he liked it. Alright, fine. He sort of liked it. He just didn’t understand it.

It had all just been so sudden. Soren kept trying to trace it back to some kind of source, as if that would explain what the funny, fluttery and nervous feeling in his stomach was. But it didn’t, because the closest that he could think of was the moment when he realized Corvus had been hurt in the Banther attack - and that didn’t make any sense. Why would he get all weird about Corvus getting hurt? They got hurt all the time.

Actually, now that Soren thought of it, he got hurt all the time. He wasn’t so sure about Corvus. 

“Hey-” 

Soren was jerked suddenly backwards by the collar of his shirt, flickering back into reality as Rayla stopped him from walking into a tree.

“Did you hear me? I said we were setting up camp for the night.”

“Uhm, yeah.” Soren swiveled, leaning against the tree he’d nearly face planted into and crossing his arms over his chest. “I just thought this tree looked… comfy.”

“Uh huh.” Rayla raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t argue. “Well, if you’re so chummy with the trees, why don’t you go and get us some firewood, then?”

“Yeah, alright.” Soren sighed, pushing off from the tree and walking into the woods. He considered mentioning that he had gotten the firewood last night too, but didn’t bother.

He had the biggest, strongest arms, anyway. So he could carry more.

He gathered what wood they would need quicker than he had the night before, though, hurrying back to camp once he had finished and dumping it on the ground. He left Callum to setting up the fire, instead scanning the makeshift camp for Corvus. For a moment he didn’t see him, and his mind flashed to Banthers, but then he spotted him a little ways further into the wood, tying his horse up next to a small trickling stream.

Soren sauntered over, leaning against a nearby tree until Corvus looked up and noticed him. The other man sighed.

“You’re not going to give this a rest, are you?”

“Nope. Now come on, let me see your wrist.”

Corvus offered it to him, and Soren took it gingerly, unbuckling his gauntlet and setting it aside.

“Well, it’s definitely swollen.” he said, staring at it. “We should do something about that.”

“Soren?”

“Yes?” Soren paused, finger hovering above the swollen spot in question.

“Are you about to… poke my injury?”

“I, uhm, what are you supposed to do?”

“Not that,” Corvus informed him. “Anything but that.”

“Okay,” Soren lifted his hand, turning it over and looking at each side in turn. He squinted at it, muttering things that he thought probably sounded thoughtful under his breath.

“The bruising is more on the left side, therefore-”

Corvus pulled his arm back. “I’ll just wrap it up. It should be better in a few days.”

“Let me get you something to wrap it with!” Soren said, hurrying back to the others before Corvus could stop him.

“Hey, Callum, you have a bag.”

“Uhm, yes.”

“Do you happen to have bandages in it?”

“Why would I-”

“I’ll just double check.”

“Soren!” Corvus’ voice made him turn his head and Callum took the opportunity to snatch his bag back.

“I have the supplies.” Corvus called, lifting up his own satchel. He was already taking some of them out, setting them on a nearby fallen log. But his wrist was clearly more injured than he was letting on, because he was doing everything one handed.

Soren jogged over, making Corvus sit down and kneeling in front of him. “Here. Let me do it.”

He unpacked the rest of Corvus’ supplies, letting the other many guide him through the process of carefully wrapping and splinting his wrist. 

“There we go.” Soren said, finishing it off with a little bow on top. Corvus blinked down at his newly adorned wrist. 

“What?” Soren asked, scooping the rest of the supplies back into the other man’s bag. “It doesn’t have to be just practical. It can be pretty too.”

“Well, thank you.” Corvus gingerly tested the splint. Having repacked everything, Soren pushed himself to his feet and slung the satchel over a nearby branch before sitting beside Corvus. 

That same, fluttery feeling was still there. But now that Soren thought about it, maybe it wasn’t so new. And maybe it wasn’t so bad, either. Even if he didn’t know what it was for. 

“I’m glad you followed us.”

“Thanks for making my job easier.”

Soren grinned at him. “Not like you needed the help.” 

“Maybe not.” Corvus admitted. “But I appreciated it all the same.”

“I’m also glad you’re okay. I got worried there, for a sec. It’s usually me running into danger.” Soren laughed, but Corvus didn’t seem to find it funny. 

“You were in trouble.” The other man explained simply.

“Well, it’s good to know you’ve got my back.” Soren beamed at him. 

Corvus’ voice was soft as he replied, “Always.”

[sorinethemastermind]

Still can’t stop thinking about how Soren tries his best to avoid talking about his family on a personal level.

How ever since he ran away he only ever called his dad ‘Viren’, how the mention of his name soured his mood, and how his eyes shift away as he tries to create distance between their relationship. But when Viren shows up again how often he visited the jail cell how often he searched for answers in his eyes.

How pragmatically he talks when speaking about Claudia and having to stop her by any means necessary his hand hovering over his sword. But how he begged her to come back when he found her again, how he hesitated again when she asked him if he truly planned on killing her.

How in private when he spoke of his mom there’s a slight longing, looking to the moon and wondering where she was. But how when the chance to see her comes up he became angry and spiteful.

How he has all these complicated emotions and anger towards them and how he keeps their photo on him at all times during his fights

[sorinethemastermind]

you're welcome, tdp fandom

[sorinethemastermind]

Reunion

In which Harrow sees his sons again. [because @lunanightriderofthecove wanted a sequel to this one where Harrow sees his sons again and I thought that was a splendid idea. Happy Birdthday to the King of Katolis!]

Harrow cocked his head, glancing up at Opeli above him, adjusting his perch on her arm. He ruffled his feathers and let out a small coo, drawing her attention. She looked at him with an expression someplace between confusion and pi-

Oh, was that a bug?

Harrow lifted off from her arm, surroundings temporarily forgotten, and soared through the great double doors Soren had just opened to land on the red carpeted floor. He hurried forward, jabbing at the ground with his beak until he'd managed to skewer the cricket.

A loud thump came from behind him and he jumped, images of Viren and cage doors slamming flashing through his mind. He took to the skies again, except the sky had been replaced by a marble ceiling, cloudless and white. He squawked, panicking filling for a moment before-

"Dad?"

The voice snapped him back into his own mind again and he settled on a nearby table, turning to search for it's source. There was a throne at the end off the great hall, familiar though the wood was now scorched and blackened. And seated in it was...

He flew forward, wings flapping frantically. He looked so different, so much older. But Harrow would have known that face anywhere. It didn't matter how long he hadn't been himself, it was his son. He lighted on the arm of the throne, staring up into Ezran's big blue eyes as they filled with tears.

He was certainly older, and not just physically. Harrow could see the crown - silver in place of gold, but still just as heavy - sitting on his brow. The lines under his eyes that no child should have. Except he was no longer a child, was he? A teenager?

Harrow experienced the strange sensation of knowing that he was crying without the capacity to cry. The same feeling but none of the affects. He took a tentative step forward, talons hooking into the wood as he leaned as close as he could. He reached out, brushing his hand against Ezran's outstretched hand. He cooed, knowing his words didn't matter but wanting to say them anyway.

Except Ezran smiled through the tears, a small laugh forming in the back of his throat, "Yeah, I'm okay. I missed you, too."

Harrow stared up at him, then leapt forward into his lap, gazing up into his eyes as he began twittering again.

Ezran wrapping both hands gently around him, thumb gently stroking his feathers. But Harrow knew the touch for what it was. A hold, tight, but not constricting. As though he was afraid he'd slip through his fingers at any moment.

"Yes, he's okay, too." Ezran glanced across the room for a moment, "Soren, will you go and get Callum? And Rayla, too."

"You got it!"

Harrow turned to watch the Crownguard spin on his heel and hurry from the room, Opeli right on his heels. He had grown so much, too. But not just that, he had also changed. So much had changed. And he had missed all of it.

Harrow turned back to his son, cooing another question.

Ezran smiled, tears still spilling silently down his cheeks, "You'll like Rayla. She's Callum's girlfriend."

Harrow twittered and watched Ezran's face fall. He hopped closer, cocking his head to the side worriedly.

"Yeah I... I guess he did finally get over her. There's a lot to tell you, Dad. I don't really know where to start."

The beginning, Harrow prompted. He would have been happy to listen to Ezran talk about anything for hours, anything at all.

His son took a deep breath, but instead of answering his questions, he asked one of his own, "Did Lord Viren do this to you?"

Harrow's eyes narrowed and he dipped his head, squawking a frustrated confirmation. When he got his han- talons on that traitorous mage he would-

"He's dead," Ezran told him, gently.

Harrow stopped his squawking, staring up at him. A wave of emotion crashed over him, confusing and unexpected. Surely not... sadness. Not after everything Viren had done?

"I'll explain everything once Callum is here," Ezran assured him. Then he added; "I'm so glad you're back, Dad."

Harrow cooed in agreement, rubbing his head against Ezran's hand once again. Just then the doors flew open behind them and he turned to find Callum standing in the doorway, taller and wearing-

Wearing the robes of the High Mage's office, a white streak through his hair.

An image of Viren, not much older than his son must now be, standing in a similar outfit and a similar castle flashed before his eyes.

But then Callum took a hesitant step forward, gait breaking into a run, and the image was forgotten.

"Dad!" he cried, dropping to his knees before the throne to throw his arms around Harrow, who stepped forward into his son's embrace. He cooed softly, nuzzling Callum's cheek with his head.

"He says he's glad you're okay, and that he loves you very much," Ezran supplied.

Callum pulled away after a moment, staring down at him with wide eyes. "We're going to get you out of there," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I know a spell that will fix all of this."

Harrow stared up at him, once again the image of Viren flashing over his son's face. He looked away, gaze wandering over the room to land on-

The assassins. They had found him. Somehow they were here.

Harrow launched himself into the air, squawking furiously as he tried to draw Callum and Ezran's attention. The elf, who had previously been skulking in the doorway, flinched back. He saw Soren reach out towards her and for a moment felt reassured, but the Crownguard merely patted her on the shoulder before pushing her gently into the room. Of course. Why had he trusted Viren's son?

Except then Callum turned, eyes lighting up at the sight of her, and beckoned her forward as well. She walked hesitantly to his side and his son straightened up, tucking an arm around her waist. Harrow stopped cawing and lighted back on the arm of the throne, wings spread protectively before Ezran.

"Dad, this is Rayla. My girlfriend," Callum said. The elf gave a small wave.

"We're at peace now, with the elves," Ezran said from behind him and Harrow turned to look at him. "Didn't Soren tell you?"

An image of a green haired elf surfaced from his memory, hand outstretched and full of berries. Harrow lowered his wings, cooing softly with embarrassment. He remembered, now, Soren introducing him. And- and there had been another person there, too. Not one of Viren's children. Corvin? Corvus! He had been there as well, working alongside the elf with comfortable familiarity.

Harrow dipped his head beneath his wing. It was becoming harder and harder to connect the dots. To hold onto the pieces of himself that weren't as close to his heart. He could feel things slipping away from him, things he knew he should know and remember. But the image of his sons had always remained clear in his mind, an anchor holding him together at his center, keeping all the drifting pieces together. Or as together as they could be.

"It's okay," Ezran reached out and stroked his head, seeming to sense his worry. "Callum is going to get you back."

Harrow looked up at his sons, glancing between them. Ezran gave him a watery eyed smile and Callum knelt back down to reach out and hold him again. The three of them reunited at last.

Whatever had happened over the years he'd been gone, however much they had grown and changed, these were his sons. And so long as he held onto that knowledge, he knew nothing else mattered.

[sorinethemastermind]

However vile.

6x06 / 7x06

[sorinethemastermind]

Whumpuary 2025 | Prompt: Bruises

 Soren hit the ground hard. Mud splashed up into his face, some of it getting in his mouth. He spat it out, grimacing.

 "Blech."

 "Come on, Get up." His instructor swung her sword in a wide arc before returning to the starting stance.

 Soren pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the throbbing in his knees, and readied up again. She came at him like a whirlwind.

 "Parry, parry, parry. Dead."

 Soren pushed himself back up, grabbing his sword from where it had fallen.

 "Parry, parry, dead."

 He used the wooden practice blade to help himself back to his feet, holding it out before him defensively.

 "Parry, parry, parry, parry-" Soren struck the sword from her hand and it went flying across the courtyard to clatter onto the stones nearby. She beamed at him. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

 Serina walked over and stooped to collect her sword. "Much better than last time. And you only fell in the mud eight times."

 "Seven." Soren corrected her. "That first time didn't count cause it wasn't mud yet."

 "Sure." she pushed the hair out of her face, wet from sweat and the rain that had picked up a little more than half an hour ago. "Why don't we call it a day?"

 "We've still got an hour until dark!" Soren protested. 

 "And you'll need that hour to get cleaned up." Serina maintained, sheathing her blade. "So will I, for that matter." she flicked some of the mud off her boots. "Same time tomorrow."

 "Okay." Soren pouted, saluting her. She returned the gesture and they parted ways.

 He traipsed into the castle, tracking mud behind him as he climbed the long, spiral staircase that led to his father's office. He shook the worst of it off his boots before pushing the door open, peeking his head inside to spot both his father and Claudia hunched over some sort of burbling cauldron. He wrinkled his nose. It smelled foul.

 "Hey! I'm back."

 Claudia beamed at him. "Yay! Dad, look, Soren is back!"

 "Mhm. Very nice. Keep stirring." his father didn't look up from the book he'd buried his nose in.

 Soren stepped into the office, pulling his sword from it's sheath. "Look, I learned this new move today." he chewed his bottom lip as he tried to remember the footing, stumbling a little bit and nearly bumping into a nearby table.

 "Be careful, Soren." his father said, absently.

 "Sorry." he tried it again, this time getting it right, and bringing his sword up in a wide arc before him. Claudia's eyes widened and she clapped her hands together, flicking little bits of noxious smelling potion around the room. Soren finished off the move with a twirl of his sword, accidentally knocking it into a few nearby bottles.

 They rattled, and his father's  gaze shot up from his book. "I said be careful." he snapped, reaching out to steady the bottles. "These are rare ingredients from Xadia. They are not easily replaced."

 Soren shrank back. "Sorry."

 "You're tracking mud everywhere." Viren said, glancing down at his feet. "Go get yourself cleaned up."

 "I'll see you later, Sorbear!" Claudia said as their father returned to his book.

 "Keep stirring," he instructed her. She nodded, returning to her task, tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth in concentration as she continued to stir the giant pot.

 Soren felt his lower lip tremble and bit it, sheathing his sword and hurrying from the room. He kept his eyes down so as not to meet anyone's gaze as he made his way down the stairs and then up another flight, towards his room. Only once he’d reached it and closed the door behind himself did he allow himself to look up.

 He stared at his reflection in the mirror opposite his bed. Covered in mud, eyes all watery. He looked pathetic.

 Soren wiped at his eyes with his sleeve, only managing to smear more dirt across his face. He forced a smile, doing it over and over again into the mirror until he'd tricked his brain into thinking that it was real. 

 Unstrapping the sheath from his side, Soren hung his sword from the bedpost and kicked off his muddy shoes before crawling into bed. He knew he would regret not changing out of his dirty training clothes later, but he didn't feel like dealing with it just then. He curled up under the blankets, feeling his breath begin to hitch. It whistled through the gap made by his missing tooth, sounding almost like a wheezing-

 He sat upright, staring into the mirror again. Sitting in bed and feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to do anything about anything. He smiled into the mirror, but it looked forced.

 He tried again, raising an eyebrow like he'd just said something funny.

 Soren tried a smirk, then a grin, then a chuckle.

 He must have sounded crazy to anyone walking by outside, laughing at himself in the mirror. He practiced anyway, until his face was just as sore as the rest of him. Then he flopped back onto the bed, feeling a twinge in his shoulder as he bumped the steadily forming bruise there.

 "Ow." he hissed. Then he quelled that too, turning it into a laugh. A knight couldn't be put off by a simple bruise. 

 "What's so funny?" Soren jumped at the question, turning to find Claudia peeking around the edge of the door.

 "Oh, uh, just something Serina said earlier. I was thinking about it." he said, quickly.

 "She does seem funny." Claudia eased the door closed behind her, coming over and boosting herself up onto the bed. "Dad doesn't like it when you wear your training clothes in bed."

 "What Dad doesn’t know can't hurt him." Soren said, cocking an eyebrow.

 Claudia giggled and kicked her feet over the edge of the bed. "Do you want to show me that sword thing?"

 "Maybe later." Soren flopped backwards onto the bed again. "What were you and Dad making?"

 Claudia copied him, the both of them staring up at the ceiling. "Oh, you know. Some sort of potion-y thing."

 "Cool."

 She glanced over at him. "He let me remove the bumblescorp stingers!"

 "...Cool?" Soren tried.

 "Right?" she threw her hands into the air excitedly. "Next time he said I could maybe even go out and collect the ingredients with him."

 "That's awesome, Clauds."

 She paused, thinking about something for a moment, one hand absently tapping on the bed. Then she turned back to him.. "When you're a knight and I'm a powerful mage, what are we going to do? We won't need to practice anymore."

 "You always need to practice." Soren said, echoing Serina.

 "Yeah, but like, not so much." Claudia maintained, still looking at him. 

 Soren thought about it for a moment. "We'll go on epic quests and slay fearsome monsters." he waved an imaginary sword through the air above him.

 "Yeah. Yeah!" Claudia sat up, clapping her hands together. She glanced down at him, still lying on the bed. "And I can use all the monsters you fight to cast my spells! We can use them for parts!"

 "Ew." Soren wrinkled his nose. "But sure, I guess." he propped himself up on one elbow, ignoring the way it stung. He must have bruised that without realizing, too. "And one day I'll even slay a dragon."

 Claudia's eyes lit up. "Did you know there are actually a ton of uses for dragon sno-"

 "Nope" Soren stuck his fingers in his ears, falling backwards onto the bed again. "Lalalala not listening."

 Claudia laughed, shoving him. "You're the worst."

 "You're the grossest." he countered, taking his hands away from his ears now that she'd stopped talking about dragon boogers or whatever it was she was about to say.

 Claudia flopped back down on the bed beside him. "One day you're going to be the strongest, toughest knight in all the land." she said. "And I'm going to be the most fearsome mage to ever live!"

 "And we'll go all the way to Xadia." Soren added. "And slay dragons and fight elves."

 "Dad will be so proud." Claudia beamed at him. "He's lucky he's got the two coolest kids ever."

 Soren practiced his smile. "Yeah. He will be."

[sorinethemastermind]

Day 34 of Campaigning for The Dragon Prince Arc 3

How do we get it? Leave positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB!! Tell Netflix that we wants seasons eight, nine, and ten through their online request form!

Want to go the extra mile? Write @netflix a letter: 131 Albright Way, Los Gatos, CA 95032, US 

And of course keep using the hashtags! #continuethesaga #giveusthesaga #thedragonprince #netflix

Keep the fandom alive! Keep discussing the show - rewatch it! - host fandom events, create metas, fics, and art. We're in this together!

[sorinethemastermind]

[made using one of @mellon-soup’s amazing pose references]

Knight!Claudia from my sibs swap AU. Yes it’s getting its own fic.

[sorinethemastermind]

Viren considered the bird in his cage, then the bag of seed in his hand. He needed to eat, and yet... this all felt very strange.

"Will you eat this, if I give it to you?" he asked. "Or would you prefer... human food?"

The bird's green eyes surveyed him, unblinking and inscrutable.

Viren sighed, "Very well. Let us try this first, then."

He flipped the latch, letting the door of the cage swing open as he reached a hand into the pouch of seed. Immediately Harrow shot forward, squawking with all the strength in his little lungs, wings flapping frantically as he emerged from the cage and into the room. Viren dropped the pouch of feed in surprise, going to snatch at him but only getting a handful of feathers.

"Harrow!" he shouted, running wildly about the room after the bird as he continued to screech, knocking things from shelves and sending them crashing to the ground as he careened about the room. "Harrow, stop!"

The bird dive bombed him and Viren ducked, hands flying up to cover his head. "I've closed all the windows and the doors! So just get back in the cage and stop making such a racket!"

Harrow, as usual, did not listen. He continued to squawk, the sound possibly getting louder the more he did it. Viren ran from one side of the room to the other, following him and snatching at his long, trailing tail feathers to no avail.

"Please-" he panted, hands on his knees as the bird proceeded to break yet another bottle of priceless spell ingredients, "Just... hold on... a moment... while I catch my breath."

The bird ignored him and he sighed. "I didn't want to have to do this," Viren told him, reaching into the pouch at his side. "𝔗𝔥𝔤𝔦𝔩𝔣 𝔚𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔞𝔴𝔰," he chanted, crushing the dried body of the shimmerfly in his hand. Yet another ingredient wasted.

Instantly Harrow's wings snapped to his side and he plummeted, Viren having to lunge forward to catch him before he hit the ground, just barely managing to do it. He straightened up, bird clutched firmly in both hands, dust smeared across his front. The spell didn't last long and soon enough Harrow's wings were straining against his fingers, shrieking caws echoing off the cold stone walls. Viren winced at the piercing call, wrestling him angrily back into his cage.

"You're making me-" he shoved the bird back inside as it once again tried to push out past his hands, "look-" Harrow cawed loudly, pecking at his finger until it bled, "ridiculous!" Viren finished, snapping the cage door shut with a huff.

He stared at his hand, grumbling, "I'm trying to help you."

The bird cawed loudly, flapping it's wings angrily.

"I don't know what you're saying," Viren muttered, turning to collect the spilled bag of seed from the ground, scooping up as much as he could off the tiles. "But I will assume it isn't polite."

He straightened up, dumping the bag through the top of the cage, most of it spilling out the bottom. Enough of it landed, however, for Harrow to get a meal.

"There," Viren said, brushing off is hands. He would have to find a bandage. "Now you can be quiet."

The bird was not quiet. Viren pinched his brow, "I am trying to feed you. Do you not want to be fed?"

The bird cawed.

"I don't know what you're saying!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air. "I have more important things to do than chase you around my office."

Viren turned, dropping the empty feed bag on the floor as he stormed form the room. He would clean it up later. Perhaps when Harrow was being less bothersome.

Pip + Viren

Ridiculous

[sorinethemastermind]

[sorinethemastermind]

Opeli stared at the bir- her king for a long moment before turning back to Soren. "He's really... in there?" she asked, eyes flitting back to the bird as it preened.

"Yep," the blond said, gaze following her own to the bird perched on his shoulder.

"And is he... himself?"

"I dunno," Soren admitted, reaching out to stroke the bird's head. It ruffled it's feathers, rubbing it's beak against his finger. "That's why I brought him to you before... the others."

Ah. Callum and Ezran.

"Has he shown any signs of recognizing you?" she asked, leaning in for a closer look, as though King Harrow would suddenly emerge from the bird if she peered hard enough.

"I mean, he hasn't tried to fly away. But he could just be friendly."

"And you're certain that this is the correct bird?" Opeli checked again, glancing up at Soren.

"Uh huh," Soren gave a small nod. "Looks exactly like the picture Callum drew. And 'rare Xadian Songbirds' are, well, rare."

"I am aware," Opeli leaned back, looking the bird over again. Then giving Soren the same treatment. He had a bird now, and his hair had gotten longer. Much longer, it was now pulled into a messy bun on the back of his head. "Do you think he will recognize his sons?"

"I... I really hope so," Soren said, expression falling a little. "I was sort of hoping he would recognize you."

"Oh," Opeli considered for a moment, then reached her arm out hesitantly. "May I?"

Soren reached out, holding his arm out parallels with her own, bumping them slightly together. After a moment the bir- Harrow cocked his head to the side, considering her, and then began to sidle down Soren's arm. He placed first one talon onto Opeli's forearm and then the other, latching them around. She shivered as the little hooked ends of them latched into her robe.

Soren lowered his arm, leaving the king perched on her arm. Opeli carefully brought him level with her face. "King Harrow?"

The bird twittered.

"King Harrow, it is a pleasure to see you again. I was relieved to hear of your survival," Opeli addressed the piercing, green avian eyes, feeling somewhat foolish but not sure what else to do. "And I am so glad Soren was able to find you. He has become Captain, in your absence. But I am sure he already informed you of that."

When Harrow said nothing, she continued. "Many things have changed during your absence, but Katolis has- Well," she stopped, glancing at Soren. "Have you told him?"

He shook his head, "I wasn't sure if he was listening and I wasn't... I wasn't sure how." He glanced down, a few loose strands of hair falling across his face. She knew Katolis was an open wound for him still, even now.

Opeli took a deep breath, "The castle, it was destroyed," she told her king, "But Soren managed to get most everyone to safety. The people, your people, are alive because of him."

She saw Soren look up out of the corner of her eye and gave him a little smile before continuing, "Ki- Prince Ezran," the switch felt strange on her tongue, "has led them very well. I believe you would be proud."

Harrow twittered loudly, then, at the sound of the name. Flapping his wings and nearly startling Opeli into dropping him. Soren's head shot up fully and they both stared at him.

"Ezran?" Opeli repeated. The bird reacted similarly, glancing about. Then he stared at her, green eyes bright and intent. It opened it's beak as though to speak-

Leaned in, and pecked her on the nose. Opeli let out a surprised gasp and Soren chuckle. She let out a small laugh before regaining her composure, staring back into Harrow's eyes, "It's him."

"What, has King Harrow pecked you before?" Soren asked, giving her a perplexed look.

"No, I-" Opeli glanced at him. "Soren, did you really think the King of Katolis pecked me?"

"I dunno," Soren shrugged, "Just asking."

She shook her head, returning her attention to the King of Katolis, perched on her arm. "He recognized Ezran's name," the bird once again perked up, staring at her intently, "And he has the same sense of humor."

"So he has pecked you. Weird."

"That's not what I-" Opeli let out an exasperated sigh. "Let us just bring him to the others. He'll want to see his sons. And they'll want to see him."

"Yeah. Why don't you carry him? He seems to like you," Soren said, leading the way into the hall.

Opeli followed him, watching the bird preening on her arm and wondering what decisions she'd made that had landed her here, in this moment. With the King of Katolis perched on her arm.

Pip + Opeli

Playful

[sorinethemastermind]

Happy BIRDthday, King Harrow!

[sorinethemastermind]

@thrandilf: someone who can draw should draw pip here me, not stopping to ask words like "can" or "should": it is done.

[sorinethemastermind]

well- um... ig it's really canon now?

[sorinethemastermind]

Added an old foil "Villains" postcard to my store!! :'D

[sorinethemastermind]

BTW I have some prints up on my inprnt store! I don't think I've mentioned it on tumblr before lmao...