#'the greatest tide washed up my prize: you'

[deaadcrush]

orchid!

orchid ⇢ what’s a song you consider to be perfect?

its hard to pick just one! I feel like i always pick alt-j songs for these memes, but it's... kind of hard not to. i have quite the soft spot for them.

nara is what i'm going with! i sobbed when i saw this live.

[barracuda-shark-games]

Larkin / he/him / 32 years old / gay

Notable traits: Calm, creative, passionate, kind, nurturing, scatterbrained

Description

The dark hue of his cool brown skin gives Brother Larkin away as a child of the Solar Plains, where worship of the Sun traces its roots. Like many of his brethren, Brother Larkin keeps his kinky dark brown hair shaved close to his scalp. He stands at 5’11 (180 cm) and has calming, dark brown eyes. His slender frame is usually draped by the signature clean white robes of the Sun Church. As head priest of the Sunrise Temple – the palace’s in-house temple – Brother Larkin wears a simple golden circlet with a minimalist emblem of the sun that rests on his forehead. His tranquil presence is as infectious as his warmth. During special events and ceremonies, sun priests and priestesses paint their eyelids with metallic gold makeup. The head cleric additionally paints a thick metallic band of makeup down the center of their lips. Brother Larkin is adorned in this way when he officiates the wedding between the MC and Wilmot.

Trivia

On sexuality and faith: In both the Dawn Empire and Arevikland, homosexuality is not illegal for those who are not of noble birth. As a priest, Brother Larkin performs marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples as well as opposite-sex couples. However, clerics for the Sun Church are expected to uphold an oath of celibacy, and as such, they cannot marry. This presents something of a struggle for Larkin, who is very devout and dedicated to his faith, but he is also a hopeless romantic.

Favorite food: Cheesy spinach quiche

Song: ‘Nara’ by alt-j

Soon I'm gonna marry a man like no other Light the fuse Hallelujah, hallelujah Love Love is the warmest colour Petrol blues Hallelujah, hallelujah Comes Saut dans le vide, my lover In my youth The greatest tide washed up my prize: you ... I've discovered a man like no other man I've found a love to love like no other can

Excerpt

Under the cut for chapter 1 spoilers! Keep in mind that this is a rough draft and, therefore, may be subject to change before chapter 1 releases.

“Brother Larkin awaits on your patio,” your bodyguard informs you, guiding you through the parlor of your quarters towards a double-door you can only assume leads to the patio. “He should be seated there now. And don’t worry, you’ll be afforded lots of privacy.”

When you reach the doors, your guardian opens one of them for you and gestures you through. You are immediately blinded by sun’s brightness, and you squint to allow your eyes to adjust. The first thing that catches your attention is the birch trees. You count five of them, adolescents in age, decorated with vibrant yellow leaves. You haven’t seen a birch tree since before the war… they are native to your homeland.

“Do you like them?” a deep voice gently interjects from your right. You turn towards it and find a slim man standing next to a table and pair of chairs. His black skin contrasts nicely with the white linen robes he dons and is complemented by the gold circlet atop his shaved head, giving him away as a cleric of the Sun. His lips are lifted in a soft, genuine smile that is matched by the sparkle in his deep brown eyes. When you look into his eyes, you feel a wave of warmth wash over you; your breathing slows and with it, your heart rate, which you now note had been elevated since you entered the city. You find yourself clinging to this feeling and the unfamiliar security it brings.

A sudden cough from behind breaks you from the spell, and you turn to see Amis has now closed the door behind him and shifts awkwardly on his feet. It suddenly dawns on you that the priest had asked you a question and you’d basically just gawked at him. You quickly turn back towards him to apologize and find that his expression is unchanged. If anything, his serene smile has somehow widened and softened all at once. He doesn’t seem to mind your lack of a response at all.

You clear your throat and say, “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Forgive me, it is I who interrupted you as you took in the garden,” the priest answers kindly. “I noticed your eyes lingering on the birch trees and I wondered if you liked them.”

“Oh!” you say, dumbly. “I, yes, I do… I haven’t seen trees like this in a long time, I almost wondered if I was imagining it.”

The priest nods as if he expected the answer. “I confess, I’ve only been to Arevikland once,” he says. “But I could never forget those golden birches. I hoped that bringing some to your garden would maybe help you feel more at home, but I didn’t want to presume…”

“I like them,” you answer. “I just never expected to see them here.”

His smile brightens. “They don’t grow here naturally, and I admit this isn’t the best climate for them. These actually came from one of the royal greenhouses. I thought they’d be fine here temporarily, and if you like them then perhaps we can get you your own greenhouse.”

“That’s… very kind of you,” you say.

The priest bows his head subtly and steps forward with his hand stretched out to you. “My name is Larkin, and I am head priest of the Sunrise Temple located here in the palace.”

[gorey]

the greatest tide washed up my prize - you

[blorbocedes]

the greatest tide washed up my prize: you

[vecran]

Comes Saut dans le vide, my lover In my youth The greatest tide washed up my prize: you

[rmbrandt]

saut dans le vide...the greatest tide washed up my prize: you

euphoria, bts — on the sea, beach house — run, bts — saying your names, richard siken — euphoria, bts — war of the foxes, richard siken — euphoria, bts

[skyphile]

love, love is the warmest colour petrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujah comes, saut dans le vide, my lover in my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize you.

[femmefatale-rps]

Comes, saut dans le vide, my lover In my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize You.

[amorgignitamore]

Lundi 1:24

Eliott lays on his sofa turning every 5 seconds to find a comfortable position to sleep. It’s not that his sofa is uncomfortable but he is uncomfortable. Every time he closes his eyes, images of distant worried blue eyes, police cars, ambulances, and concerned parents, flash his mind. Thoughts that run too fast and too loud. Only one word in his thoughts is understandable: Lucas. Thinking about him doesn’t calm him like before, instead, his mind gets even faster and the pain grows bigger. What does Lucas think of him now? Does he hate him?

Maybe drawing could calm him down but all his papers are filled with images of sad raccoons and hedgehogs and that didn’t help. Maybe music. Music like the one Lucas played on his piano. The same piano that’s now in his line of vision. He wishes his parents weren’t sleeping in his bed, at least that room doesn’t have a Lucas presence in every bit of it like the living room does. 

He thinks about the record player, but that carries too many memories and his body feels too heavy and too tired to get up. His phone becomes the last resort. The phone he has been avoiding ever since Lucas answered his text. He opens the playlist of songs that remind him of his love, the same one he was going to show Lucas during the weekend that turned into a hospital bed, parents crying and more medication. 

His finger brushes over Alt-j’s Nara and the song starts playing. He places the phone under his pillow and puts it on the lowest setting possible so his parents don’t wake up. The lyrics make him hold his breath “Comes/Saut dans le vide, my lover/In my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize/You” “I've discovered a man like no other man/I've found a love to love like no other can”. It’s like a love letter he would have written to Lucas. The song is no lullaby but is enough to make Eliott’s thoughts slow down, so he puts the song on repeat. After the 10th time, his eyes finally start to feel heavy with only the thought of his lover in mind dozing him off to sleep. 

[stabbykiri]

Saut Dans Le Vide

read on ao3

The song began to play from the speakers, soft guitar following the word “Soon…” as he pulled Magnus’s back flush against his chest. He didn’t seem to mind, leaning back against Alec’s chest and closing his eyes, his legs unfurling from under him to lazily sprawl on the couch. An afternoon together wasn’t something they were able to have very often, given their busy schedules. Usually, nights were their time together, both tired and burned out from long days of stress. Alec had wanted to do something special, some sort of celebration of having a moment between them where they were both wide awake and relaxed, but Magnus’s idea was much better. A lazy afternoon, lolled on the couch as they listened to soft music and enjoyed the fresh air coming from the open balcony doors. No plans, no going out, just spending time in each other’s company.

As Alec leaned back, he closed his eyes and listened to the song that had started to play.

“I’m gonna marry a man like no other

Light the fuse

Hallelujah, hallelujah.”

Alec smiled a little at the lyrics as the music picked up just a bit. This must be a new addition Magnus had added to his playlist. After a while, he knew his boyfriend’s playlist by heart. Not that this was a complaint. Magnus’s music taste had always been way better than his, and he liked this song a lot. It made him think of things he hadn’t thought about for a while.

They’ve been together a while now, and everything they’ve been through made it feel like longer. With Valentine, then Lilith, then Asmodeus and on and on...time, in general, slowed down as it seemed the threats would never end. But at least he had someone to come home to, someone that didn’t make time drag on unbearably when he was with them.

Despite what happened with Lydia, Alec never thought he would marry. It wasn’t something he felt would happen to him, not because he was unlovable or because of his sexuality but...he just couldn’t see himself married. He couldn’t see himself as anyone other than simply Alexander Lightwood. Singular. Alone.

Magnus made him feel different, though. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was, but Magnus unlocked something in him as he did in Magnus.

He held Magnus tight, pressing a kiss to Magnus’s hair. His boyfriend made a quiet noise and shifted, so he was laying on his side, head tucked under Alec’s chin as he snuggled comfortably into him. “Mm, while I love your date ideas, angel, I think mine is definitely the best choice for today.” Magnus mumbled, smiling up at Alec. “Mhm...” Alec smiled back. “We don’t get to do this as much as I want to.” “We’ll have to make more time, then.”

“Love

Love is the warmest color

Petrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujah

Comes

Saut dans le vide, my lover

In my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize

You.”

Love was just something he accepted would never happen to him until he met Magnus. Suddenly, at the moment he properly set eyes on the man, he understood what Izzy and Jace meant as teenagers when they went on and on about the people they had crushes on. He would have felt a bit embarrassed that he was feeling these things so intensely for the for the first time at twenty-three, but he was so overwhelmed at the time that he didn’t think about any of that until much later. By the time he did, Magnus was ready to shoot down the embarrassment.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Alexander.” Magnus had said when Alec brought it up. “We all have different times we experience things, and no age is right or wrong.”

Those were one of the many times Alec was glad to have Magnus. He never made him feel wrong or late or embarrassed when it came to feelings. He always felt understood when he fumbled through words, trying to express how he felt without being what he felt like was embarrassing but is what he later realizes is just being open with his partner.

Everything was just so comfortable with Magnus. That was why when Alec thought about marriage now...he saw him there, right by his side. Like he was always meant to be there.

Why not make it official?

Alec was distracted from his thoughts when he felt fingers tracing patterns on his thigh. With a small smile, he leaned in and pressed a kiss behind Magnus’s ear.

“Follow, let him go, let him lead me be

Love is a pharaoh and in front of me

I thought let him be where he’d want to be

Love is a pharaoh, and he’s boning me.”

“What’re you doing there?” He asked softly, arms tightening a little around Magnus’s middle. “Doodling,” Magnus replied. Alec could practically sense the cheeky grin on his face. “I could doodle somewhere else if you’d like.”

Alec smiled. “Where?”

Magnus sat up in his boyfriend’s lap, smiling warmly down at him as he moved his hand from Alec’s thigh and gently caressed his face. “Here?” The warlock asked softly.

Beginning to understand the game, Alec chuckled and shook his head.

Pressing a kiss to his cheek before he moved on, Magnus ran the back of his fingers down Alec’s throat with a barely-there touch. He could feel some of the muscles tensing underneath the other man’s pale skin, and he watched Alec bite down on his lip as they did.

“Here?”

“No.”

A kiss was placed against that spot as well, though a little bit more time was taken so Magnus could make a mark high enough on Alec’s neck so he could just barely cover it up when he put on one of his collared shirts the next morning before he headed off to the Institute.

“I’ve discovered a man like no other man

I’ve discovered a man like no other man

I’ve discovered a man like no other man

I’ve found a love to love like no other can

He’s found me, my Aslan.”

“Magnus…” He whined, trying to pull him closer.

There was a mischievous glint in the warlock’s eyes. “Use your words, Alexander.” Alec let out a breathy laugh and cupped his boyfriend’s face in his hands. “Kiss me.” He whispered.

And Magnus took no time to do just that.

His boyfriend’s lips on his, soft and warm, and hands slipping under his shirt, warm as well and firm and sure in its touch, made everything fade away. Any thought in his mind that wasn’t of Magnus was wiped away, leaving him with just Magnus in his arms.

This was another thing they hardly had time for anymore. With them being so busy the most they got during the week was quick kisses and quick romps after they collapsed into bed at night when they got truly needy, though the energy then was less happily lazy like now and more exhausted. More than once one of them had started slowly kissing down the other’s body, only to look up and find that in that time the person being kissed had fallen fast asleep. That was why Alec guarded his precious weekends off with Magnus with everything he had. He firmly told everyone that he would only come to the Institute then for emergencies and nothing less.

That, of course, didn’t always work out.

Their kiss continued, Magnus sitting on Alec’s lap with his hands in his boyfriend’s hair and Alec’s firmly on his waist and pulling him closer. A few fingers traced the rune on the shadowhunter’s neck and caused him to let out a soft moan. The moment quickly heated up, both of them frantically touching each other anywhere they could reach until Alec reached down and started trying to undo Magnus’s belt. The warlock in question pressed their foreheads together and laughed softly as he watched Alec take a few tries to actually undo it. Alec pouted and gave Magnus a gentle shove once he actually succeeded.

“You laughing at me?” He mumbled, pulling the strip of leather from its loops and tossing it aside and then undoing Magnus’s pants and yanking them down.

"Hallelujah, Bovay, Alabama

Marry a man like no other

Hallelujah, Bovay, Alabama

Love is the warmest colour

Hallelujah, Bovay, Alabama

Unpin your butterflies, Russia

Hallelujah, Bovay, Alabama

To be a deer in Nara.”

“A little,” Magnus admitted, giving his boyfriend a gentle kiss before eagerly pushing up Alec’s shirt and then pulling it over his head. “What are you going to do about it?”

Alec grinned. “Well, I-”

There was a knock at the door.

Of course.

“Shit…” Magnus grumbled. “Damn it…”

Alec leaned back against the couch, catching his breath as he watched his usually graceful boyfriend stumbled off the couch towards the door. For a moment he had almost forgotten that his pants were halfway pulled down and there was a quiet string of curses as whoever was at the door knocked again while he tried to look decent. Alec could just barely hear Magnus as he opened the door. “Cat, I love you, but I swear to god-”

Alec chuckled a little to himself.

Yes, He thought, I definitely want to make it official.

[1aurel]

∞

LoveLove is the warmest colourPetrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujahComesSaut dans le vide, my loverIn my youth the greatest tide washed up my prizeYou

Nara- Alt J

[goangea]

∆ Nara

Love, love is the warmest color

Petrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujah

Comes, saut dans le vide, my lover

In my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize

You.

Follow, let him go, let him lead me be

Love is a pharaoh, and in front of me

I thought let him be where he want to be

Love is a pharaoh and he's boning me

Hallelujah, Bovay, Alabama

[robertogrosso]

Love, love is the warmest colour Petrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujah Comes, saut dans le vide, my lover In my youth the greatest tide washed up my prize You. (Nara) #altj #nara #london #art #contemporaryart #augmentedreality #musicinspiredart #painting #blues #friday (at London, United Kingdom)

[sarlcagen]

Soon

[skyphile]

love, love is the warmest colour, petrol blues, hallelujah, hallelujah... comes... saut dans le vide, my lover, in my youth, the greatest tide washed up my prize... you.

this one got huge too... painting th bg was so much fuckign fun tho and heres a full view of it

[femmefatale-rps]

also criminally overlooked in all this recent Tenderness Discourse is Alt-J’s Nara trilogy because “comes, saut dans le vide, my lover", “i’ve discovered a man like no other man / I've found a love to love like no other can” and “in my youth, the greatest tide washed up my prize: you” literally that’s what it’s all about baby! salvation through selfless love! devotion, gentleness, intimacy!!! the yearning to live as carefree and cared for as the deer of Nara!!!!!