#I can take whatever they dish out ⌈ 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 : 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭 ⌋

[silverxone]

@phoenixfiiire asked: has anyone ever taken care of you? a court of thorns and roses prompt

Admittedly, her situation looked a bit grim at the moment, and she was not about to try to paint a perfect picture and pretend otherwise. She’d been well outside Navarre’s wards, patrolling the cliffs near Aretia when a riot of Wyvern appeared. There was no sign of the Venin that was controlling the hive, and she’d been mistaken in believing they could stand their ground long enough for either help to arrive or to loop back to safety. 

It seemed with each Wyvern that was defeated, two more appeared to replace it. Their numbers were growing at a pace she was not equipped to take on, even with Tairn’s brute strength and deadly talons. 

She was too far from Xaden and Sgaeyl, too far for her and Tairn to communicate down the bond and request a backup fleet of riders. 

When the hive of Wyvern had all but barricaded their path back to the wards (their numbers were too large to depend on Tairn’s breakneck speed), they’d had no choice but to flee. They would return to Navarre and explain what had happened, but for now they needed to get far away from the riot if they hoped to survive. 

The hours after their battle blurred together, the cadet bleary-eyed as she battled against her body’s desire for sleep whilst they flew through the night. She couldn’t say with certainty how long they’d flown, only that the sun had risen hours before they’d scouted out a spot that seemed safe enough to land. What Violet hadn’t expected was to cross paths with anyone once they made their descent, but a massive black dragon flying overhead was a bit hard to miss in hindsight.

Two strokes of luck came out of the encounter with the man that approached: he was not a Venin, and he seemed to have no interest in hurting her—though Tairn would have been quite the obstacle to get through.

“Despite how my current situation might look—“ she began, letting out a weary sigh as she pushed back the tangled mass of chestnut and silver from her face; her braid hadn’t stood a chance against the battle and prolonged flight they’d had to take on such short notice. “Yes. I have an entire squad of fellow cadets that I trust with my life. I have a sister and brother that have broken more than a few rules to prepare me for the future I would face. I had a father that tried to warn me about the secrets of my home….”

A pause. Her eyes glistened at the thought of the next two people that came to mind—wounds that had yet to heal. “I had a friend that gave his life to keep me safe. And a mother that did the same because she loved her children with everything she had, even if she had a terrible way of showing it.”

[silverxone]

The scoff that pushes from betwixt delicately parted lips is bitter. She’d been hoping whatever Rhiannon told her would serve as a distraction rather than highlighting the harsh reality they’d found themselves in. She wasn’t seeking a lie from her best friend, but something — anything — to temporarily relieve her mind would have been welcomed. 

Hazel eyes flit to the taller woman, watching as she pivoted and rolled back her shoulders before drawing Violet’s hands into her own. It catches her a bit off guard, peering up into the pools of the richest chocolate that were Rhiannon’s eyes. Despite everything they’d faced so far, and everything they’d faced before coming here, they still held so much warmth and comfort. 

Her something real is a confession Violet hadn’t expected, even if she knew the words to be true — she’d felt them. “That day at the parapet…Mira likely would have strangled me if she’d been there to see what I did. She told me not to seek friendships. She told me to do anything to not be another name on the death roll. But what did I do? I traded a boot. The thought of you — of anyone — falling off? I didn’t want to stomach it.” She gave her friend’s hands a squeeze, feeling the warmth that radiated from her palms into her own. “I don’t know if I was seeking friendship or an alliance that day; it all happened so fast. But I’m glad it worked out the way it did.”

From surviving the parapet to ending up in the same squad thanks to Dain (the one thing she might begrudgingly admit he’d done right), everything had worked out. 

If her squad leader’s heartwarming confession hadn’t been enough to ease her mind a bit, her quip had Violet’s own lips tugging into a smirk as soft laughter escaped them. “Careful what you say, Rhi. If Ridoc hears you he’ll want to take it out on the sparring mat.” 

@silverxone sent an ask to (Rhiannon) //

“ just tell me something real. tell me something i can remember no matter what happens to us. ”

Rhiannon shrugged. Her hands fidgeted a bit, like she wasn't quite sure what to do with them right then. ❝ I'd say nothing was going to happen, but I'd be lying. We both know that. ❞

The darkness crept closer; even their dragons sensed it, the way everything felt off. Wrong.

In far more ways than one.

❝ But you want something real, Vi? Alright. ❞ Rhiannon turned then, squaring her shoulders before she reached out, her hands gripping Violet's own, dark eyes meeting those of her best friend.

❝ I decided you were it that very first day. When you traded your boot with me, I decided, right then and there, we were going to be best friends. No matter what happened, no matter where we ultimately ended up, it didn't matter. We were it, Vi. ❞

She gave another shrug, lips smirking briefly. ❝ I mean, we could do without Ridoc, but Sawyer can stay. He's not half bad. ❞

[silverxone]

“Sorry about that!”

It was a quick apology before before she turned to the black morningstartail with an exasperated sigh, hazel eyes narrowed on the dragon. “Tairn is….cranky. He dislikes when people he does not trust get too close to me. And he hates it when anyone gets too close to him.” It was a simple explanation as she scolded the dragon through their bond, earning only an apathetic huff as a response. 

So much pride.

With a roll of her eyes, Violet turned to look back, offering an apologetic smile. “Best to give him a wide berth. I would recommend at least fifteen feet,” she reasoned. Any less and he was prone to snapping his gargantuan jaws, as demonstrated, regardless of whether it was a human, dragon, or other creature. With the exception of Sgaeyl of course. 

Being one of the largest and few black dragons, most tended to give him the space he felt he deserved, but it was a bit of a learning curve for newcomers — one snap of his teeth or blast of fire tended to correct that. “So long as you keep your distance I promise the curmudgeon will be on his best behavior. Won’t you, Tairn?”

[silverxone]

“Of course it is, Wingleader,” came her grumbled retort as she gave him the most exaggerated eye roll she could offer, even if he hadn’t bothered to look back at her. She had come to expect as much by now — Xaden keeping his little secrets hidden in his shadows and only giving as much information as was absolutely necessary. She’d seen as much already, with the way he kept the meetings with the Marked Ones hidden but also kept her spying on said meeting hidden from them.

She had to quicken her pace to keep up with his longer strides, pulling down her flight goggles into place and making sure to give Sgaeyl a wide berth on her way to Tairn. There was no sign of Andarna, which was a relief since she didn’t want to pull the younger dragon into any unnecessary risks.

With another roll of her eyes, Violet began her ascent onto Tairn, the black morningstar tail having lowered his shoulder to make the climb easier. “Perhaps we wouldn’t be late if I was given more details on our mission!” she sniped, needing to get one final jab in on the shadow wielder. 

“Lead the way, Riorson!”

He shrugged, but didn't say anything in an initial response, Xaden still striding towards the flight field. Both Tairn and Sgaeyl were on the other end, ready and waiting.

❝ Need to know, Violence. ❞ Xaden didn't even turn to look at her this time, and while yes, he could have told her a bit more details on where they were going, sometimes it was equally as fun not to say a thing.

To see her get all riled up.

Xaden scoffed at that, though, shaking his head. ❝ Actually, Sgaeyl might very well be just as amused as you sound at such a possibility, ❞ he mumbled, approaching his dragon. Sgaeyl gave a huff, almost like she was, indeed, agreeing with those words.

❝ Now. Come on. We're already late. ❞

[silverxone]

Perhaps she’d gotten carried away, answering his question too literally. She might have divulged too much information about herself and her situation, but she is taken aback by the insight he unexpectedly offers. She needn’t miss Xaden or Dain when the man she’d just met was just as efficient at chastising her.

Of course, Tairn would quickly chime in and reprimand her if she pushed herself too far. If anything, the black morningstartail should have been more exhausted than her considering he was the one doing all the flying and maneuvering. 

“You’re right, it won’t — not that my mom would stop me from pushing myself. It’s the Sorrengail way. But Liam…” Even now, her voice cracks when she attempts to say his name aloud. It didn’t seem to matter how many months would pass, thinking or speaking about him never seemed to get any easier. 

Her hazel gaze flits over to the man before she forces a shaky smile onto her lips. “He’d probably tell me to give myself a break.” Though, like Xaden, he wouldn’t have attempted to coddle her or think her fragile like Dain had. 

Fuck she missed Liam.

“I guess this is what Rider Survival Course prepared me for,” she mutters, pivoting to take in a better view of their surroundings. She’d be able to fall asleep just about anywhere so long as their surroundings were deemed safe. Luckily, it would be pretty hard to sneak up on Tairn, so at least she had that going for her. But sleep would come second to her other needs.

“How…long have you been in the area? Have you found anything useful? Water? Anything that can be scavenged?”

This world was unfamiliar.

That last of his memories had been of death. The piece of the creature that called itself a god, the fragment of Ultima, had been ripped from his chest, and in the last moment with his dying breath he had offered up what remained of his strength to his brother. Clive had taken it it unwilling, and then-- nothing.

Until he was awake. Health, hale, whole.

He was never any good at dragon riding; why bother when he had his own wings he could use? Wings that he was no quite sure he had anymore. His flames felt weaker now, and a part of him was worried that the more he tried to grip tightly to the power of the Phoenix, the more it would slip away until he was left with nothing at all.

Despite its unfamiliarity, he didn't seem to at least appear too out of place. And while the size of the dragon descending was much, much larger than the war wyverns used by dragoons, closer to the actual defenders used to guard castles, the fact that there was a rider on its - his? - back was slightly... comforting.

The woman looked absolutely exhausted and worn to the bone. The urge to try to heal whatever wounds were there was strong, an almost itch that crawled beneath his skin, but Joshua had to push it down. He wasn't even sure he could heal anymore, and he didn't want to discover he had lost that power in a foolish attempt where he tried to use it.

So he offered all he really could - his ear. Listening was a skill Joshua that learned from a young age. Really listening, not just sitting quietly and waiting until someone stopped speaking. She had to be part of a group, one that sounded militaristic in origin. She had recently lost someone dear to her, too. And... the little he was piecing together, he did sound like they may have shared more than a few things in common.

Joshua was far too familiar with feeling like the weight of a family secret, burden, was now resting on his shoulders alone.

"Failing to take care of yourself won't make any of their sacrifices suddenly worth it." The words may have been harsh, but Joshua tried to speak as gently as possible. "If even a stranger can tell you tell to take some time to rest-" And possibly grieve. "-then... a few hours sleep is the least you could do."

[silverxone]

“I still cannot believe they made you, of all people, a wingleader. You’re clearly using it to your advantage,” she retorted, rolling her eyes as she tucked a loose strand of chestnut and starlight back behind her ear after it had slipped from her coronet braid. 

There was a part of her that did wonder if it had been solely for the sake of watching Dain go into another conniption, not that she could be bothered by that now. Dain had more than a few strikes he’d made against himself since she’d arrived at the quadrant, and she shuddered at the thought of how wrong that kiss had felt after Threshing. 

Pulled from her thoughts, her hazel gaze flitted over to Xaden, brow now arched in question. “That sounds pretty ominous, wingleader. What exactly is this assignment, anyway?” Though she wasn’t sure she believed he would actually tell her. Of all the people she knew, Xaden was the man that harbored the most secrets in the shadows — it wouldn’t have surprised her if he held out until the very last minute to tell her where they were going and what they were doing.

“Tairn is protective. I’m sure you would have been on the receiving end of that by now, if it wasn’t for Sgaeyl.” 

Still, she might not have minded watching the curmudgeon go toe to toe with the wingleader. Maybe something would be able to wipe that infuriating smirk off his lips for once. 

Her words drifted towards him as Xaden made to walk beside her. A glance down at Violet, his lips barely keeping from smirking as he shrugged.

❝ Perks of being a wingleader, I guess. ❞ Sure, Aetos might have nearly fallen apart when the order was given, but Xaden really didn't care. Especially since all he had to do was remind the stupid bastard that he had absolutely no intention of seeing Violet killed.

❝ And let's just say I don't trust anyone else to keep you alive on this assignment except me. ❞ Liam would be the closest in her year that he'd trust, sure, but no one else.

❝ Though Sgaeyl swears Tairn wouldn't let you die. So... there's that, at least. ❞