#Guildmate
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
clocktowerserver · 1 year ago
Text
I very pain at past.
Yes, this my old friend Sakray/Sayaka from Odin Clock Tower server. His Discord is Sakray#9269, such history and memory Oct 26th 2022 - 28th Jan 2023, my friends and guildmate make me a bad way, you will know me happen on this Odin Clock Tower server. Everyone come here, this persons and their Guilds;
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Yes I got painful and hurt on this ROX game, this peoples are "-SaintDF- guildmate, Timeless Guildmate and Rox & Roll Guildmate". Specially i will tell newbie player, if you're newbie to playing ROX, you should go register otherserver or newserver. Better is don't register this 'Odin - Clock Tower' server, be carefully… everyone are not friends on Odin - Clock Tower server, possible you be all "vulnerable" groups who are sympathized with by others, if you're using RO Female character. Better is stay away from -SaintDF- Guild, Timeless Guild and Rox & Roll Guild, cause they're isn't friends.
Everyone reading my history past Oct 26th 2022 - 28th Jan 2023, lets you will know;
Since 13th Dec 2022, I still haven't Ranger class yet that i'm still Lv62. I need take time some completed stuff to get Ranger class and Lv90 (yes, my dream is their Ranger class). I get very angry that Sakray meet me on Chat world at when i use "Tavern" at chat world. Make Sakray already know me haven't Ranger class yet. I feel very very sad for this. I feel no polite at him. Sakray wanted me be main class is AB class (not Ranger), he want me be can't attack monster, Mini and MVP anymore…. He want me rely man help me? Macam anime character Melida Angel (Assassin Pride), Nana Ebina (Himouto! Umaru-chan) and Hatsune Mike's song "rolling girl". OH MY GOD~~~ Sakray wanted me be failed female, he is scary strong man. For example, Sakray is strong man (Ranger class) and me is weak girl (AB class). i got sexistes by Sakray, really very dirty.....yikes. kjtwkjhghsdgfshff.
I haven't become Ranger class, Lv90 and strong Female yet, BUT this Sakray said me is "you're good person". Meaning is I am weak female is good? He is most misunderstand (i feel he is an ignorance, he don't know failed female is bad person or worst person). Also I'm not join Guild cause I haven't become Ranger class, Lv90 and strong Female yet, his Timeless Guildmate ask me join KVM, problem is i haven't Ranger class yet and Shadow Equipment. Sakray's guildmate ask me join KVM (If i still low level)? What the....
At last 28th Jan 2023, Sakray's Timeless Guild did kick me (he is look down at me cause i don't have Ranger class and Lv90+), he just make me overy pains. Also their Guilds -(SaintDF- Guild, Timeless Guild and Rox & Roll Guild), i was all "vulnerable" groups who are sympathized with by others..
So dont judge me so soon. All Sakray/Sayaka get was his own fault, and His mainly RO fan character name 'Sakray' and awesome main Ranger class are not an excuse, because he choose to female be AB class (he is wanted weak womens), not what they are telling to him. That is because Sakray/Sayaka are think me is failed is good, they are give me a 'green hat' and 'dirty', they wanted me be AB class, can't attack monster and boss even, I have a feeling of being sexistes, cause make me be weak female. I will ignore this Sakray and Timeless Guild seriously, I very not interest is "Strong man and weak women" that is because very scary (If i'm weak women and failed women, i begin sexistes by everyone, i feel they make me unhealthy and uncomfortable).
I already delete name and Discord account. Well for those who just blindy believed in what is his telling about me and about another server and come to game onlines to check who I am, you must know that he gave us lots of trouble last months, and he is still remember me forever, he is scary man.
Thanks for reading about my past, those guys are not friends on Odin Clock Tower server, they are cyberbully, i got hurt and pain a LOTs at past Oct 26th 2022 - 28th Jan 2023. I won't change main class, i NEVER use AB class. I NEVER give up about my true main class is Ranger class (WHY i wanted be strong female, can attack monster, mini and boss even)!!!! I will ignore this Sakray/Sayaka is awful. This at rate, He will be failed in main fan RO character name Sakray and his main class Ranger…. REASON "He just wanted female be main class is AB class, isn't Ranger class". Sakray/Sayaka is NOT friend, cause they wanted female be AB class, make female can't attack monster even? If get worst again, I will never use main Female character on game online. No matter his awesome male character name and main class, make sure I do not believe him on game online again. Lets move past….
1 note · View note
class1akids · 6 days ago
Text
Tumblr media
Someone posted this on twitter, and I'm imagining their switched endings:
Tumblr media Tumblr media
53 notes · View notes
autumnslance · 4 months ago
Text
"Actually, don't touch my subs, you'll mess up my route cycles."
-@driftward before heading for vacation.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
...Also Driftward before heading to vacation:
Tumblr media
61 notes · View notes
fluffypotatey · 4 months ago
Note
To be honest I am a huge Nalu shipper. But the thing is I want to know the difference between the way Natsu cares about his guildmates and Lucy. Like what is the obvious difference since that boy sees every as Nakama so how can we say that the wag he cares about Lucy is different?
Like even when Erza passed away? (All the way back in first season there was a segment where the guild was gathered at her grave and all) Natsu was still very reactive. Plus he was also said to be depressed even when Lisanna passed.
What's the difference between all of them and Lucy?
the fact that he stayed. the fact that before he met Lucy, Natsu wasn't one to stay in a group or even want to work with anyone besides Happy at the start of the story. hell, he was ready to just file Lucy down as "New Guildmate" once they reached Fairy Tail
but then, Lucy doesn't leave. she follows him on his mission to save Macao despite her not needing to or even really understanding everything about it. she stays and then fights with him and saves him. it's no secret that Natsu is strong and can take care of himself really well. he's been going on solo missions for years now, and no one has really stopped him, but that means he's been in a lot of sticky situations where he and Happy are on their own and have no backup. and yet, without asking, Lucy offers it
Tumblr media
and i think this is the moment when Natsu considers that maybe it's okay to have someone there to have his back (sans Happy)
Tumblr media Tumblr media
"but Natsu only needed Lucy for the next quest because of the requirements," well, Natsu also wouldn't have taken or even considered that quest if it weren't for Lucy, yeah? he was not a team player (in the picking job's sense) or really wanted other people to help him on his quests sans Happy. and then he goes and picks a job that caters to their team whilst ensuring that Lucy can't say no
Tumblr media
or maybe i'm reading too much into it 🤷🏻‍♀️
or maybe Natsu's got horrible abandonment issues that he will latch onto people so fast (Igneel & Lisanna) but also cause him to distance himself so far when left behind (his 1st time at the guild, Lisanna's death). Erza and Gray are Natsu's closet friends after Lisanna and yet they cannot reach him when he closes himself off. and then we have Lucy, who stuck by and had his back, so who is to say Natsu didn't make some contingencies to ensure whether or not she'd join him?
but maybe it's the rose, colored ship glasses i have on
because yeah, Natsu cares for all of his guildmates. the power of friendship is his biggest motivator. when we meet Natsu, our first introductions of him is defending his guild's reputation from Bora (who was using it as a guise for human trafficking) and saving Macao. and our 1st big arc (Galuna Island), where Natsu adamantly refuses to allow Gray to use Ice Shell and sacrifice himself despite how antagonistic they've been to each other. we get Natsu 100% at Erza's defense throughout the Tower of Heaven and he is even ready to defend Wendy though they only met hours ago
Natsu is a character with a bleeding heart and cannot help but wear it on his sleeve, but we don't really see him allow others to fight his battles or have his back until Lucy comes in. to be honest, i don't even think he had his heart on his sleeve until Lucy. he still has a bleeding heart (i don't think anything could stop that), but he was not ready to be open in receiving company because he was so used to it being ripped away from him
that being said: of all the characters he interacts with, he finds Lucy to be someone compatible enough for him to start going on team missions and inviting her on them (for example, his 1st S-class mission, which he stole, he went to her house to show it to her. the fact that part of the reward was a celestial key might be a coincidence, but i wouldn't doubt it as Natsu and Happy's trump card in case she refused)
but yeah, the difference is that he stayed and didn't push her away at the beginning, but instead continued to invite her along with him to the point that doing a mission without Lucy wasn't his regular anymore. compared to the rest of the guild, of whom he spent most of his childhood with, even if he spoke to no one, they would still be around and talk to him anyway. he might not invite them on job and only challenge them to fights, but the guild is his home and a constant in his life, a constant he needs (bc heavy abandonment issues).
"okay, but he still pushed her away after he watched Igneel die right in front of him. and he left the guild for a whole year, too. so what's the difference there?" you may ask.
so 1) Natsu never thought the guild would disband. he returns to Fiore after a year and is the last to know that they disbanded. he assumed, like all the other times before and while he and others were sealed for 7 years, that Fairy Tail would still be there when he returned. he assumed that his disappearance would not impact so hard because the guild would still be around and Lucy would have the others with her
which, did not happen :)
and like, so many guild members go off on jobs, quests, or even just leave for an indiscriminate amount of time (which i, personally, believe was his rationality for leaving), so him being gone for a year was nothing! right? no harm, eh? his plan was never to be gone forever :))))
2) he just watched his father die and lose any chance of having some semblance of a long term reunion with Igneel. he literally lost one of his main driving motivations for getting stronger and taking jobs. before Fairy Tail, before anyone, it was Igneel. and to learn that a) Igneel was always with him to begin with and b) he only got to see him for less than a day after 14 years of nothing......i would feel lost too ngl
man's needed space from everybody. and he also needed comfort, but Natsu has been shown not to really be the character who asks to receive comfort (and when he does receive it, it's usually when he's already emotionally compromised). he is in the habit of shutting people out after being abandoned or losing someone close to him, with his next rationale being to "get stronger" in order to prevent what happened in the past to ever happen in the future.
anyway
what makes this different? well for one, he sent the letter only to Lucy (or it's implied since no one else is shown getting one) because of how the two spend most of their time together. even the line that goes with the panel makes it sound like Natsu is unsure on how the note will be received (maybe even hesitant? but that could be my own hopes)
Tumblr media
and one of the 1st people he reunites with after a year is Lucy and we get such a similar parallel to the first chapter of Fairy Tail between the two as if the narrative itself is slotting them together to say "ah yes, now everything is back to normal and new journeys can begin"
but yeah, this is just a long way of saying, that Natsu does love his friends and guildmates but even when he is close to them, he kept to himself (and Happy) and sort of stayed in their orbit but always with some emotional distance because of his fear of abandonment. and then you have Lucy where he will stay for and allow her to orbit around him and he will invite to new adventures no questions asked
that's the difference
#this is 100% unrelated but reading the older chapters had me realize how Cana's hair is a lot curlier than in the anime#my girlie's waves got straightened T^T and they were so gorgeous too#also love the translator's notes at the end of each volume <3#fill me with so much joy and why they chose to go in what direction for each translation#this post is longer than i thought oops#like i was gonna leave it at 'bc Natsu stayed for her' and then be done#but no i can't just leave it there and not back it up#also me saying Natsu stayed for Lucy is not me trying to undermine his other relationships in the guild#Natsu's bonds with Fairy Tail are the very core of this story so to say that he loved any of his guildmates less would not be right#his love for Lucy is different#it started the same but shifted as the arcs progressed#his priorities with her are different than they are with his friends and guildmates despite being on a fairly even level#fun fact! i started writing this 6 hours ago. had class. got distracted w/ old ft plot while searching for manga panels. and now we're here#btw: this is not excusing Natsu's act of leaving without so much of a warning. this is just explaining his personal rationale and emotions.#ofc Lucy was right to feel upset and betrayed for being left behind by Natsu and then to be alone bc the guild disbanded. i would too!#but we aren't talking about that. we're talking about what makes Natsu's feelings for Lucy different from the rest of the guild#also sorry i got a little lazy with the manga panels after the first couple T^T and mayhaps distracted (rereading Igneel's death is sO fun!#fairy tail#natsu dragneel#nalu#fairy tail nalu#ft meta#also like how natsu loves is very open and through action#no matter whether its familial or platonic or romantic#how he shows it is the same fierce protectiveness and attentiveness#personally i see natsu's love being in equal fervor for all. none really trump over the other. they're just different
44 notes · View notes
hulludragon · 3 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
I think romeo is an evil worm that makes his way into my head to scream his annoying word jumbles. I do not want to like him yet everytime I feel like drawing TD fanart, the only thing I can think of is drawing Romeo in increasingly chaotic or embarrassing situations. Like idk I want that man to suffer but not physically or anything too bad.. just like.. kick him down a peg Aaaanyways Romeo in da dress. The ponytails was impulse. I will not be shading this cuz I am LAZY !!!!!!
36 notes · View notes
asinasura · 4 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
a lari i drew after she went for my jugular :3
i like lari but this is how it feels currently:
Tumblr media
41 notes · View notes
moeblob · 5 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
He's just a funny lil guy!
Frank Wing (right) is a very responsible adult (aka he has a job) and while at said job, his best friend enters his apartment and downloads an MMO to be a menace cause he keeps claiming he's too tired to do it once he's home. So when Frank realizes what she's done he's like. Fine, whatever, I'll log in this one time just to give her a sense of satisfaction.
And he does. Unfortunately he's not lying when he says he's tired once home so he doesn't do much but sigh at the character she not only made him but named. And so he logs in as "alpha_dude" and just tries to ignore it. Then he finds out his best friend is just a bit weird in her online habits and has a guild where she's trying to collect users with the Greek alphabet in their names. So. She's Omega Rising and now he's alpha_dude. He doesn't really care since he's not planning to play long.
(spoiler, he keeps playing and never changes the character or name. so he just gets stuck being called Alpha in game a lot and gets lots of hesitancy bc who would willingly name themselves that and he's like 'not even me, ok'.)
26 notes · View notes
neatnete · 4 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
19 notes · View notes
liquidstar · 6 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
oc req i got from a friend on cohost for these two hanging out! which eventually turned into me thinking "what if this is just saiph walking up to ramus unprompted on Guild Beach Day, but ramus fully forgot who he was since they last met" and that concept was funny enough to me that thats what the drawing became
but still, here's an edited (technically original) version under the cut bc i think eventually they start to talk for real anyway lol
Tumblr media
20 notes · View notes
talkingllama · 1 month ago
Text
Tumblr media
economy broken, need a new one
8 notes · View notes
lucky-lucky-duck · 3 months ago
Text
12 notes · View notes
frugalkubal · 2 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
🐱 orange cat eating a pineapple 🍍
7 notes · View notes
trickywish · 5 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
16 notes · View notes
yuuuvie · 3 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
Guildmate Nextdoor (gmnd) ;; Ji9star (worldstar) design
15 notes · View notes
markmorrison76 · 3 months ago
Text
Tumblr media
7 notes · View notes
autumnslance · 4 months ago
Note
(@driftward) SURPRISE! Downtime funtime! Intimacy prompts, 11. Sharing secrets with Iyna, 29. Kisses when they're mad with C'oretta, 49. Caring for them when they're ill with Dark, 15. Talking with Aeryn... and maybe one you wish someone would've asked for but didn't.
More of these from earlier this summer. In case we need a reminder that @driftward is a menace here are several prompts below the cut, and I maybe shamelessly borrowed her Zoissette Vauban, and @erickgage's Erick Gage, for 2 of them.
--
11. Sharing secrets with Iyna
“You know the worst thing?” Valdeaulin said, staring up at the shadowed ceiling. “I don’t want to kill him anymore.”
Iyna paused in her search for her clothes. Not the strangest post-coital conversation she had ever had, picking up where they had left off in their pre-bedroom argument. She went back to fishing for her stockings. “Could you, though, if you had to?”
She sensed his frown behind her. “Yes,” he finally replied, certain. “But I don’t think the bastard’s going to give me a reason to anymore. I don’t…want there to be a reason anymore.”
Iyna considered that, nodding once. “And that feels wrong, somehow?”
“Isn’t it?” He turned to his side, head propped on his hand, watching her collect her clothes.
“You’re telling me this because part of you hopes I’ll agree,” Iyna said gently. “You know I don’t like him, and still harbor hate for…everything. And you want your guilty feelings validated.”
Valdeaulin scowled in response.
“I can’t give you what you’re asking, Val. Because you’re making better progress than I am, concerning the changes in our world. The empire’s fall. The Black Wolf’s change of coat.”
He sighed and flopped onto his back again. “Perhaps I just needed to hear it.”
“Perhaps,” she agreed. It wouldn’t be the first time he had asked for her blunt opinion. She balled the bundle of her clothes under an arm, her boots hanging from her fingers, and headed for the wash while he continued contemplating.
--
29. Kisses when they're mad with C'oretta
When Zosisette’s lips went very thin and her frame stiffened, C’oretta knew she was in big trouble. Zoissette’s demeanor had shifted in a way that made the lab feel like midwinter on the highest peak of Abalathia’s Spine.
Which was far too cold for Ul’dahn Sun Seekers.
“Do you have any idea what could have happened if the calculations were slightly off?”
“Yes of course that would be bad but they weren’t because I—”
“Never! Show! Your! Work!” She didn’t yell and that was actually the worst part, the way the elezen sharply emphasized each word despite being so very quiet.
“No I know I don’t and I know it’s a problem we’ve talked about it before and I mean to fix it honest but I get distracted and anyway it’s all so obvious I really don’t know how anyone could mix up the levels the balance is—”
“C’oretta,” Zoissette sighed.
Oh this was so bad. Even Violet was hiding, peeking from behind the bench, snout snuffling as she looked from one to the other. If C’oretta got barred from the lab—again—that would suck for however long it lasted thanks to no work to do but also Violet would be sad because of lack of treats so there was really only one thing for it.
C’oretta sighed too. “OK I will sit down right now and write everything down even though it’s already too late I know that but I should have done it to begin with and we can avoid this in the future.”
“There’s also the matter of cleaning up this mess.”
“Of course I’ll do that first and then write it all down and you will hold me to it because you’re the best and really what else are we going to do today thanks to my carelessness!”
Zoissette’s brows drew in briefly, noting the shift but not sure what to make of it as she nodded, some of the ice thawing. “Right, well, glad that you’ve acknowledged—”
And now for the cherry. It didn’t matter that the other woman was over two fulms taller. “Of course and you’re the best Zoissette thanks so much for being a friend and teacher!” and C’oretta bounced up, managed a kiss on each of Zoissette’s cheeks, before bounding toward the closet for the safety and cleaning gear while her comrade stood and blinked in stunned confusion.
C’oretta was in the clear for another bell at least.
She really did need to start writing things down though cuz maybe some of this wasn’t so obvious to everyone else…
--
49. Caring for them when they're ill with Dark
It had been a long time since she had to clean up after Erick like this. Before, it would have been due to overdrinking and a hangover. Today, however…
“I’m not hungry,” he grumped, a bit of whine to his voice.
“It’s soup,” Dark said flatly. “And I will pour it down your throat if I must.”
He narrowed his eyes from where he sat propped in bed. She knew he believed her. “I can’t keep anything down.”
“Nothing solid, but you need hydration and nutrients. It’s an old recipe, meant for upset stomachs.”
“I want Meya,” he flopped back against his pillows, eyes to the ceiling. “She has a much better bedside manner.”
“Among other things,” Dark replied dryly, satisfied by the little smile that played on his lips. “But she’s not here, so drink your soup.”
He sighed, long-suffering, but finally complied, making a face as she sat, arms crossed, ensuring he finished the mug of broth, slowly.
After a nap, she held his hair and cleaned him up when he heaved into a ready bucket again, and then bullied him into a cup of tea before helping him to the commode.
She stayed all night, leaning back in an armchair, ready to respond when he needed help through every messy function this particularly nasty bug put him through, until his fever broke in the pre-dawn hours.
It was closer to mid-afternoon before he woke, ate a bowl of vegetable soup with toast, and sighed, feeling mostly like a person again, if in need of a shower.
So did Dark for that matter, bleary-eyed herself, but satisfied he was well enough to manage that on his own, getting up to leave as he collected what he needed to clean himself.
“Thanks, Dark,” he said quietly, not quite looking.
“Any time,” she replied, just as quiet, before slipping out.
--
15. Talking with Aeryn…
“So it’s pretty serious then,” Rashae said casually as she joined her sister on the roof. Radz-at-Han’s colors gleamed and lights sparkled on as the sun fell behind the Giantsgall Mountains.
Aeryn sighed, fiddling with the bracelet on her left wrist as they sat on the wall, legs dangling like when they were girls. “Yes,” she admitted. “We’re not quite…ready, for…”
Rashae raised a brow. “No? You live together, share a bed—don’t try to play innocent with me—what else is there? It seems simple—”
“Easy for you to say,” Aeryn snapped, then sucked in a breath and shook her head. “I’m sorry, it’s just…it’s not that easy. For either of us. For many reasons.”
“Reasons you have neglected to mention in those letters?” Rashae asked, watching over the city, unaffected by Aeryn’s outburst.
“I told you everything in my letters,” Aeryn said, still contrite. “Just…not every detail.”
Rashae smiled. “I long ago figured that out. Especially as my children have gotten old enough for the same trick. I never wanted to push your privacy, and was happy to give what advice I could. I couldn’t even imagine some of what you described, and how you must have felt. Must still feel.”
“We’re working on it,” Aeryn said. “And we’ll get there. In our time, at our pace. We need to sort of…ease into it, I suppose.”
“My impetuous, impatient little sister, taking her time and consideration with something? It must be very important,” Rashae answered, not quite teasing. Her hand rested on Aeryn’s and squeezed. “And it will be worth it.”
“I like to think so.”
“Papa likes Thancred. So do Kai and Mirvah. Even the Grandmothers. And he of course won the children over quite easily.”
“He is a charmer,” Aeryn said, warmth filling her. She glanced at Rashae. “What about you?”
“Oh, I’ve liked him for years,” she answered blithely. “Your descriptions, your sketches, all brought him to life. It was obvious how he made you feel, even when—especially when—you were upset about things with him.”
Aeryn let out a breath she had been holding.
“My husband still thinks he’s a rake.”
Aeryn laughed. “Well. He’s not entirely wrong, though Thancred’s rakish days are behind him.” She leaned over, resting her head on Rashae’s shoulder. Rashae’s head tilted against hers. “Please don’t let the Grandmothers plan a giant wedding for me.”
“Heavens forfend,” Rashae answered, giving Aeryn’s hand another squeeze. “With everything you’ve done and everyone you know, the guest list would be obscene and frankly impossible. If anything, you should elope and we sort it out later.”
“Take after your example?” Aeryn grinned.
“For different reasons, of course, but as I still breathe, you can rest assured forgiveness works far better than permission. And you don’t have to deal with Nani Shaila, even.”
Aeryn shivered. “I’ll have to leave an offering for her memory, lest she haunt me anyway.”
“That would be safest,” Rashae agreed.
The heat of the day lingered, the humidity and their closeness causing a drop of perspiration to slide down Aeryn’s spine. But she didn’t want to move, didn’t want to lose this closeness, the familiarity of Rashae’s scent and touch filling a years-long craving Aeryn had pushed so far down she’d nearly forgotten it. Her elder step-sister had always been a comfort and shelter, one Aeryn had missed terribly. One she had needed so many times, but all she could do was write.
“I shouldn’t have stayed away so long.” Her vision blurred as a stinging heat that had nothing to do with Thavnair’s weather filled her face.
“You’re here now,” Rashae said, wrapping her arms around Aeryn. “And when you’ve finished this latest adventure, when you and your man finally define your future together…I’ll still be here, when you need me. But it would be nice to have more than letters a tad more frequently.”
Aeryn tried to laugh sheepishly, but it came out as a sob. Years of adventures, of triumph and hardship, crashed into her at once.
Her sister held her, stroking her hair, singing gently, as the crescent moon rose overhead.
--
and maybe one you wish someone would've asked for but didn't.
(None of the others really pinged for the FF14 crew, but just for you, how about something from the original story and prompt 59 “a height difference”…)
They continued to walk, some of the garden beds held by low, broad retaining walls of smooth stone, giving Mevan an idea. August blinked as she stepped away from him, lifting her skirts just enough to bound to the top of the low wall. “Be careful—”
“I am,” Mevan said, smiling. “I’m still not as tall as you while up here!”
The top of her head was even with his eyeline now. He chuckled, shaking his head. “I see. Certainly a new perspective.” He kept hold of her hand, more to keep her steady. She kept hold of her skirt with her other, carefully walking along the top of the stone.
“Sometimes that’s what’s needed,” she said, remembering the times teachers in Zenith had repeated the words.
“Any insights from your new perspective?” August asked dryly.
“The ground is very far away and normal sized things seem much smaller,” Mevan answered.
He huffed out an almost sheepish laugh, looking away in that shy manner she was starting to recognize. “It does not seem so to me, but I am used to my height.”
“Maybe you should walk on your knees for a while.”
“I hardly think that would be useful.”
She shrugged. “You’re so used to being large, when was the last time you felt small?”
He was quiet for a moment, enough to make her peer at him. “You might be surprised,” he finally replied. Then shook his head, looking off to the side—his embarrassed expression. “Nevermind”
“No, I won’t,” she said. “I want to know. Was someone cruel?”
“Why, would you curse them?” he asked.
Mevan tossed her hair. “Maybe!” she declared. As he peered at her, she shook her head. “That’s a superstition, told by the fearful. Though I’m afraid I must admit there are nasty moments where I almost wish I could curse someone.”
“I can scarce imagine you in such a state.”
“I have my moments. But you’re trying to deflect.”
He frowned. “I said nevermind.”
She stopped, making him pause too. “Neither of us want this,” she said. “But if we must go through with it, we ought to talk to one another. Even about difficult things.”
He glowered at her. She pulled her hand away so she could put both on her hips, lifting her chin and meeting his piercing amber gaze—even if his expression made her want to leap off the wall and flee. It wasn’t that he was trying to frighten her; more that was just his typical fierce scowl. But she was a Spark of Zenith, and had studied under those who could change reality at their whims. One soldier, even if he was a fearsome giant of a man, was not going to intimidate her.
Especially if she did end up married to him.
They spent a rather long time like that, before August ground his jaw, then sighed, shoulders shrugging downward. He looked away again. “You are a stubborn witch, aren’t you?”
“And your brother wasn’t wrong to call you a stubborn bear,” she countered. “So perhaps we are well matched in that regard.”
“Hrmph.” He held out his hand again. She considered for a moment, then took it as they resumed walking, Mevan still upon the retaining wall. “I try to keep my own counsel,” August said finally. “To avoid others noticing how…awkward I can be, in most situations.”
“You haven’t struck me as awkward,” she replied.
“It’s kind of you to say so. And I have…practiced, quite a bit. But often, my size and voice and ability to command covers much.”
“I see,” she said. “That’s why you dislike large groups of people, then? Afraid they might notice?”
“I don’t fear them,” he said testily. “But I do not wish to embarrass my House by merely speaking incorrectly, according to arbitrary rules that constantly shift. And they are simply too much; too many smells, too many sounds. It’s grating.”
“Easy to feel trapped by it all,” she said, empathizing; it must be even worse when larger than anyone else, and easily seen.
9 notes · View notes