#🕊: v: hope springs eternal (here’s to not drowning in it) / laxus in rt au

[reivun]

@raiiryuu liked for a starter!

twilight was just beginning to settle and ivan knew he had to speak to laxus before time went on any longer. yes, it was a surprise to see him appear before raven tail. a pleasant one. and considering all that had happened, ivan wondered at first at laxus' intentions. but now there was less wondering. it seemed makarov's parenting style (or lack thereof) struck true once more. a cycle repeated and washed away.

but there was something else, someone else to be considered in all this. and laxus did not know. but he had to. especially if he was to stay here, as it was zilla's home as well.

"laxus..." ivan did not know how to have this conversation fully. there was a lot to unpack. but, sometimes simple was easier. simple was clear. "there is something i have to tell you, but before i do. i need your word that you won't...tell anyone. from magnolia, at least. it's not bad."

[reivun]

though ivan could control his face and not outwardly react to the bond of laxus and one of the hatchlings — he could not stop the feeling of the fondness blossoming within his ribcage. it was nice to see laxus had bonded with one of the ravens. he couldn't explain why, not yet, but it made him happy nontheless. ivan walked closer, his steps light as to not bother laxus' hearing. did laxus get overstimulated still? probably not, he must have plateaued at some point and adjusted to the new normal. otherwise, he'd have even more reasons to justify trying to takeout his traditionally loud former guild.

but. back to the topic. the topic being a short shadow mage who was on her way home from her first official quest as a raven tail mage. it was to watch some magical supplies for a probably very shady man (hence dr. shelley's presence with her) and he got word of her impending arrival three hours ago.

the time for procrastination had truly come to a bitter, bitter end. he didn't know why he was so worried. well, he was lying to himself really. he knew why he was worried. he had laxus around, on laxus' own accord, a laxus that makarov threw away. it suddenly opened a door that was previously sealed shut. laxus would no longer be in the middle. ivan could finally be open!

laxus and the raven were both looking at ivan expectantly. it was time to rip the bandaid. he offered a smile, even knowing he couldn't muster up anything other than a nervous smile. "there's something — someone, i've neglected to mention." ivan paused again, this time rubbing his beard. "i've...been reluctant to make her life too public, considering how public makarov can be. but. her name is zilla claramond and i've adopted her. she's your younger sister, she's fourteen and she's a shadow mage." ivan was quick to add, "you two can, of course, decide the nature of your relationship together, but legally, you are both my children. she's very quiet, almost shy and due to arrive home tomorrow."

the bandaid was off. now, all ivan had to do was wait.

He'd been watching the ravens, as he had been quite often since arriving there (at least, since he'd arrived at the actual location of the guild. The few illusory doubles he'd come across hadn't had the same flock circling). At some point, one of the juveniles had started to join him, apparently finding the collar of his coat a suitable spot to rest (and Laxus had given up on trying to shoo him away, at this point).

He'd long since gotten into a habit of waiting until someone made themselves known before he turned to acknowledge them, finding with many of the others at the -- at his former guild -- it helped avoid a certain sense of scrutiny when he'd turn to them unexpectedly. He wasn't entirely sure it'd be the same case here, seeing as Ivan had been one of the few aware of the heightened senses from the start, but he still waited until he heard his name before turning with a brow raised (and the raven on his shoulder fixing one eye on Ivan, feathers ruffling and settling at the movement).

The slight hesitance had been someone of a norm, at first -- there had been so many things unsaid, so much they had to figure out. Things had calmed...slightly, since then, and they'd settled into a more comfortable coexistence. Enough so, at least, that he'd assumed most of that awkward stage was behind them. Perhaps not.

"Hm? Yeah -- I haven't really heard from 'em much since getting here, honestly. Did somethin' happen?"

The reassurance that it was not bad didn't alter his reaction much, but not for any sense of mistrust -- he simply hadn't defaulted to that to begin with. Things had been...complicated, but nothing he'd seen so far (though he knew that hadn't been much, yet) would have suggested ill will towards the guild in general. Towards Makarov, yes, but Laxus...couldn't say he disagreed with that, in fairness.