#𝑽𝑰𝑶𝑳𝑬𝑻 . * threads .

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@gccdstories ♥'d

Yesterday's session on the mat appears to have pushed her over the edge. When she reached her room last night she was fine, if a little bit achy. But this morning... the pain was too much, radiating into an ache down her limbs, and she was too tired to even reach for the flask of water she kept on her desk. She missed this morning's formation, but she's not sure what else. Judging by the insistant knocking at the door it's substantial. Violet's been missed. And honestly she couldn't care less.

"Go away." The words are unclear, grumbled into her thin sheets. She'll be back at breakfast tomorrow morning, that's all that matters. Maybe this evening she can get some notes from Rhiannon or Liam. She's played catch up before, she can do it again.

Another knock. Please, please, don't be Xaden. Be Liam, who'll leave her alone or just sit watch, maybe bring her some lunch. But not Xaden, who'll force her onto her feet and just reinforce how fucking awful she feels. She can't deal with him today. Violet curled onto her side, facing the wall in a futile attempt to ignore it.

"I said go away."

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Violet groaned. Not at the gentle kiss; no, that gained him the briefest of contented smiles. It felt right somehow, even if at times she still bristled at his constant company. Somewhere in the back of her chest it reminded her of Brennan. It felt like home. Not the original one, maybe, but some new one. And for a second, her tense shoulders relaxed against his. Then he had to go and say that. Her head turned into his shoulder, as if she could crawl away and hide from it all. From him. Fucking wingleader. Not that Liam would be any help with that particular mission.

"Me? Annoy him?" She pulled back, threw up her hands in frustration, and slumped where she sat. One swift movement that at any other time might be easy, but after hours on that mat it hurt like hell. Did her shoulder just click? She lifted her opposite had to give it a light massage. "Is that even possible?"

For a moment the thought overwhelmed her mind. Sometimes it seemed that way, but then he walked away, calm and still, and carried on as if nothing had happened.

"One day I swear, I'm gonna-" Nope. She can't even threaten to kill him, not even as a damn joke. "-I'm gonna gag him. That I can do, right? I'll gag him and then I'd get at least five minutes of peace."

he sees the weariness that she tries to hide, sees the ache in her shoulders that have her stiff when she sits beside him. he is glad to be her friend, glad to have met her. perhaps it began as an assignment, perhaps it began as a favour to the man he owed his entire life to. but it was friendship now. at least to him.

though violet still chafes at his nigh constant presence, he finds himself lingering near her because he enjoys it as much as anything else. it’s the closest he’s ever felt to normal. to be accepted for who he is, versus ostracised for the supposed crimes of his parents.

as she leans her head against his shoulder, he stills from the whittling that keeps his hands busy when his mind is restless. lips brush her temple with a hum.

‘ long day irritating your wing leader? you must be exhausted. ‘

his voice teasing as he goes back to his careful work, the knife cutting through the wood effortlessly as he works to reveal the shape he sees trapped within the wood.

[ lean ] sender rests their head on receiver's shoulder // violet & liam // @starsrattle

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@lifebloomd

Violet could get too used to her visits to Prythian. They came with deeply appreciated rest, and a break from her flight leathers and armoured corset. It was nice to breathe deeply again and not need look over her shoulder. But the habit was hard to break, and every few lines of reading was broken with a glance up to scope her surroundings.

She was reading in Elain's garden when she saw them. Although it was open space, and Gods they didn't even touch, the glimpses she caught over her book felt like intruding on something intimate. It was an innocent interaction, but still charged with... something.

When the Spymaster- Azriel, wasn't it?- left, Violet put the book down and went to Elain's side. She threaded her arm through the other's and leaned in with a playful shoulder bump.

"So, the Spymaster, huh?" His title was accented playfully. The intriguing contrast of Elain's openness and softness with his quiet menace wasn't lost on her. Although, he did seem more relaxed with Elain, like he was basking in her gentle nature. She threw a look over their shoulders to where he'd just been, but he was already gone. And then to sky, but still nothing. Weird. She guessed those wings made them faster than she thought. She turned back, smiling, "He's nice to look at."

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The crash landing had done a real number on her; scrapes down her cheek, a dislocated shoulder reset into it's joint and wrapped in a sling, a weak knee that threatened to do the same, and ankle that made her limp every few steps. Violet supposed she should be thankful for her injuries this time; they probably saved her a more intense and thorough interrogation.

These people, this... High Lord... whatever that meant- they would let her heal and then return home as soon as she was strong enough. Though they kept a close eye on her dragons, and Tairn bristled at it enough that she herself felt uneasy. That was probably why she startled so badly at the young woman she found herself with.

It was early, quiet, and Violet had been looking for some breakfast. So far all she had found were empty rooms, walls of paintings, and some rather beautiful views of the river.

"I'm sorry- I was looking for a kitchen?" Violet glanced back down the hallway she'd just walked through, and suddenly wondered just how different this place might be. Was she supposed to wait for a formal breakfast? Use her lesser magic to summon it herself? Her brows furrowed with confusion, and her knee trembled slightly as she turned back to @lifebloomd, "Does this place even have one?"

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@meaercies : [ hand ] a chivalrous kiss on the back of the partner's hand

His lips touched the skin of her hand and her eyes widened ever so slightly. She still had a lot to learn about the fae of Prythian but she did know their senses were beyond imagining. Between that and the Spymaster's skills, she wondered just how much he picked up on. It made her heart skip thinking about what he might know.

But Violet was suddenly acutely aware of her flight leathers, her wind tousled hair a mess. Her eyes widened for an entirely different reason. If she wasn't already blushing from the tenderness of it, she would be now out of sheer embarrassment. She tucked some loose strands behind her ear, self consciously trying to tidy any other strays.

"Is this how all women are treated here, or is this just you?" Despite her attempt at playfulness she's still blushing.

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A deep sigh, and Violet's shoulders sagged. Whether it was out of shame or embarrassment, she couldn't look at him. Her dark eyes stayed fixed on the hands resting in her lap. What use was her exceptional aim with them if she didn't even have the energy to lift them?

"I'm not injured," Still she didn't look up. Her face even twisted away from him, pointedly not looking. Whatever this was; some kind of twisted concern, an attempt at keeping her in line, or even preparation for some planned punishment for being awol- Violet could not look her Wingleader in the eye. "This is... different."

Her father called it an explosion of her sickness. She fought so well to be a normal child, he said, that her body had to have its revenge for being beaten. In her lap she turned over her hands, watching for any trembles in her fingertips. It didn't feel like she was beating it.

"There's nothing they can do." And Gods know they had tried. "Don't worry, I doubt it will catch."

It's clear on her expression when Xaden walks in that it has been far from a good day for her. The wince, the look in her eyes-- It doesn't take him long for his dark eyes to sweep over her, as if trying to decide exactly how damaged she is.

❝ You're a bit further away from Death than Liam made it sound, ❞ he mutters, striding further in and shutting the door behind him. Xaden will definitely not admit the grip of worry that had seized him before-- It's not important.

❝ But is there a particular reason you're here and not in the infirmary if you're injured that badly? ❞

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Violet watched carefully, her smile falling briefly as she watched Elain fuss. Something tightened in her stomach, and it wanted to lash out and argue. But she reminded herself these people were strangers. They had no reason to coddle her. It's not coddling, not when they were no more or less gentle with her than they would be with any other injured guest. 

Her smile was sadder and more forced than she would have liked it to be as she dropped from the stool and made her way to the chair. It was her heart's turn to go tight; this kindness deserved better than her deeply ingrained annoyances. When she hit that chair though- Violet relaxed, stretched out her aching legs, and let out a relieved breath. "Thank you." Although leaning back slightly, she watched with genuine interest as Elain moved the flowers. A small smirk tugged at the side of her mouth. "Sounds like they would be useful in our gyms," Of course it's expected that they would smell, being full of sweating bodies, but she's also thinking about the dense fog of testosterone.

"Or after a dragon flight, you'd be shocked how much they can stink." Tairn chuffed in her head, a low growl a reminder that he can hear, and Violet cracked a full smile.

Elain began to list off food and Violet went slightly slack-jawed, mouth watering. How long had she been flying before she crashed? "I'm uh- I'm suddenly realising I don't know when I last ate. Eggs and bacon... Gods that sounds good... I think I'd eat whatever you put in front of me." Scoff it more like.

elain winces a little in sympathy, watching as violet perches on the stool, wobbling. she knows little else about violet, but she knows she had taken quite the fall - - - it could not be comfortable to navigate the balance needed for that unsteady perch. leaving her basket of flowers on the table for a moment she walks to a corner, clearing off a low-backed chair that had collected a small assortment of herb bundles and glass jars. they are easy enough to relocate, and elain crosses back to the table, pushing the chair to the side of it. "i'm so sorry," she says. "one of the legs on that thing is shorter than the others - - - it makes it quite hard to sit on comfortably without any injuries. the chair is much more comfortable, if you prefer it."

returning to her flowers, she nods as she fills a pitcher with water, cuts the stems and sets the flowers inside. "they are," she says, a small hint of pride - - for the flowers, rather than for her own skill as a gardener. "it's a variety of lavender my sister found - - - it makes any room smell lovely for a time, and has many uses dried."

that task done, she sets the pitcher on the windowsill and ties an apron around her waist, uncovering the dough she had set to rise overnight. it goes into the oven before she turns back to violet.

"do you like eggs?" she asks. "we have bacon as well, and fresh fruit. yesterday's bread should still be good to eat, and we have jam and honey. and if you like tea, i can start the water boiling."

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Violence. She had never hated that nickname more than she did right then. It told her all she thought she needed to know about what she was about to face.

"If I was dead, you'd know it." It was little more than a grumble, aimed into the pillow she was currently attempting to hide in. She really didn't want to face him, be reminded of how much of a liability she could still potentially be in the field- fuck, the field. The brief thought pulled a groan from her. Violet hadn't even thought that far ahead. So far she had only thought about surviving in small steps; survive the Parapet, then the challenges, then the Gauntlet, then Threshing... What happens when she's in active service? She has to move.

She turned and tried to sit up in her bed. Although she managed it, the effort was written on her face.

He knocks rather incessantly again, palm hitting the door over and over. Of course, he could just go right in, but he's not at that point.

Yet.

❝ Well at least I know you're still alive, Violence, ❞ Xaden comments from the other side of the door. When Liam had told him earlier that she hadn't been seen, a part of him had (admittedly) worried.

Even if Xaden wouldn't admit it.

He stands silently, waiting to see if she'll answer him, if she's good enough to get up and answer the door herself. Because if not-- Xaden doesn't let the thought continue right now.

With a flick of his hand, Xaden unlocks the door. He sighs and lets himself in.

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"Ah." Well now she felt foolish. "Thank you." Violet hung her head slightly, her lips tightening into an embarrassed smile.

Violet followed, looking at every counter and cupboard, noting locations of anything useful. Being a little sore was no excuse to be a burden on these people. Besides, she already had their hospitality. If she found the right things to make, the right ways to leverage, she might be able to make herself a half decent meal.

"I can manage. This is-" A lot. It was a lot if she was being honest. Even the college would probably ground her, and rightfully so. There was a stool beside a countertop, but it was tall, and Violet needed to rest her weight on the counter to make it up there. And then she wobbled, gripping hard to keep from slipping. "-Okay, maybe it is quite bad even for me. I would appreciate something to eat, thank you." She laughed a little at the absurdity of being able to sit on a dragons back but not a damn stool, then smiled, "Are they from your own garden?"

elain liked to wake early, before the rest of the house began to stir, to slip out to the gardens. before the sun rose too high, before the day got very warm, while the birds in the trees were the only music. it was not uncommon to come back inside, cut flowers in her basket, and find someone else wandering. it was, however, uncommon to find a dragon rider.

particularly when she was certain that madja would have told the young woman not to do too much walking around.

"you've very nearly found it," elain says, laughing a little as she approaches. "we do indeed have one - - - there are simply so many other rooms that it can be somewhat difficult to find." she passes violet by only a handful of steps, opening a door to the kitchen that waits beyond. "i was going to put these in water," she says, lifting the arm with the basket hooked at her elbow, "and start the bread for the day, but i can make you something to eat, if you're hungry."