#eggpens.

[ascalonsmercy]

9/08: SHED.

verb: (of a reptile, insect, etc.) allow (its skin or shell) to come off, to be replaced by another one that has grown underneath.

rating: g

characters: wan non, chanduciel de dansereau, euphemie de dansereau, prince haldrath (mentioned)

tags: oofie parenting 101, the dragonblooded heritage (& more) is showing & it jumpscared oofie, & nonnie is being herself (being no help at all)

summary: what a way to ruin a splendid morning. 

wordcount: 413

“Are you sure it won’t peel off?”

“I said no such thing.” Nonnie huffed, eyeing the toddler who seemed entirely oblivious to the distress that wrought terror into his mother’s lovely features. 

“I’ve been in a human body for less than a—” She paused, and sighed a beat after the boy cooed.

“...less than enough time to figure out how exactly man takes track of it!” Euphemie scowled as her manicured fingers attempted to make sense of what she could only describe as scales shedding from her darling boy’s cheeks. The lump in her neck bobbed as she swallowed in trepidation—dead, transparent skin—her boy’s skin—is on her fingers and she doesn’t know why. 

That’s a lie. She thinks she knows why but she can’t be sure—for once she hopes her uncertainty will be a good thing.

“Anyway. He seems to be ok. For now.” “And we don’t know how long that lasts!” 

“You’re talking to the wrong person.” Nonnie shrugged, and by reflex, almost clapped her hands and motioned for the little one to come closer—but she restrained herself at the moment, instead keeping her arms crossed atop the back of the chair from where she sat looking at the lady and lordling of the manor. The sun had only begun to rise and they had only found themselves in this questionably dire situation during breakfast time, and this sort of discord was not the kind Nonnie wished to begin her day with.

“I’ll have to talk to someone. Anyone—” She muttered, gathering the boy in her arms.

“That fellow Marcelloix. O-or—”

“Why not Dou?” She bit her lip, and tasted the tinge of rolanberry from the blossoming pink gloss she’d applied just a bell earlier.

“She…must be occupied.” “Not occupied enough for an emergency I’m sure.”

A pregnant pause fell between the two women, and somehow being fixated on Chanduciel’s bubbly smile made it worse. Years had passed since Douceline’s fateful return yet Euphemie had never truly wriggled out of the overreaching spotlight that her younger twin had made for herself—accidentally or not, something about it had been meant to happen, and the more she had discovered in the years following just pressed the knife deeper into the wound, for the more it became clear to all of them how fate must have played a hand in this somehow,

“I’ll give her a call.” Her free hand flew to the linkpearl tucked in her ear, but not without a begrudging—but not defeated—sigh.

[frostsong]

9—01: CROSS.

noun: a mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces.

rating: t

characters: prince haldrath, original characters, euphemie de dansereau

tags: haldrath/euphemie, reincarnation au, dragoons

summary: one morning in her bed. 

wordcount: 811

“you said it was from your grandmother?” 

“mhm. heirloom. it’s outlived so many of us—like a good luck charm of sorts.” she grinned, wielding the rosary higher above their heads. the midday winter sun was caught in the intricacy of the mythril and silver chain, an image of halone at the center of the cross. truly, the shine reminded him of her eyes. 

“...though whether or not it truly works is another thing entirely.” she lowered the chain onto his open palm with a subtle clink.

“it fits you.” his eyes were still half-lidded—sleepy like the smile he gave her, as his fingers closed around the cross-pendant.

“of course it does! i wouldn’t wear it everyday if it didn’t.” a confident sway of her head, and the curtain of ash-blonde that fanned with it. even unbrushed with her religious routine of one-hundred strokes, it was lovely—as was the whole of her, unkempt and newly-risen, still untouched by what grime and gore the fury would ask of them again—as was the nature of their damnable profession.

“few things don’t.”

“you flatter me.” 

“you know i don’t mean to.” if anything, she would always count on him for his honesty.

“but you are a suitor. and a suitor is wont to wile with words so sweet and shallow.” the thread of her words became like the prose of scripture once more—the very scripture she detested. but euphemie was more fond of irony—and so she took the style for her own devices.

“you must forgive me.” from the side of the pillow where he lay, head turned to face her, he smiled wryly.

“i’ve never…pursued anyone in the past.”

“one could hardly tell.” she leaned in close, elbows propped atop the mattress and chin cradled in her palms.

“there’s usually a lot more deception involved, but you? hardly.” their noses were close to touching.

“it is our wont as dragoons to encounter peril every way we look. as if i’d allow myself to cause you more harm…” the cadence of his words fell to a comfortable mumble as he brushed a wayward strand of hair from her eyes. 

“…it’s almost as if chivalry found itself a vessel.” she sighed dramatically.

“thank the fury i know it not to be wholly true—or i would’ve thought you insufferable. you know how insufferable i can be—at least, that’s what the others say.” she rolled her eyes and shrugged as he chuckled, and moved to sit up on his side of the bed, careful to place his pillow closer to the headboard. unlike her, he was used to making his own bed in the morning. 

as she rose to part the bed-curtain in full, she became aglow in the morning sun: illuminated, as if in the image of the fury herself. but in place of stone was tangible flesh, moon-white scars that shone almost pearlescent when wet—the way her knee fell atop the mattress as she reached for the drawer of her nightstand, one hand in her hair as she sought what must have been her hairbrush—

“...shouldn’t you be heading off somewhere, captain?” he was at a loss for words when their eyes met, and he could only manage a nervous cough as her dimples rounded with an ever-growing smile. angelic was her countenance, and the descriptor only rang truer in light of all it had persisted through—all it had endured. haldrath had seen many a fair face in their city—but euphemie stood apart from them all, for what she believed in and how she went about it—

being so partial must have come from being in love, he thought.

“...you almost forgot.” the sharp cold pressed to his palm was his salvation, offering the rosary with its chain neatly coiled in his grasp.

the lieutenant blinked, and the spread of her lips ceased—bending ever so slightly at the waist towards where he stood on the opposite side of the bed. But instead of simply taking it, her head lowered, too—she wanted him to do the honors, returning it to where it lay close to proximity to her heart for the better part of the day. 

(he never thought he’d find himself envying halone, and yet.)

with her so close, he took his chance to steal a kiss, the chain light on his fingertips as he delayed letting it—and her—leave his grasp. the want was mutual, as her mouth sought his in bittersweet warmth, though at the first temptation to send them back to bed he broke the kiss with a sigh, her fingers threading through his undone hair, the cross-pendant pressed tight between the rise and fall of their chests.

“...’ve a good day.” she managed to whisper, though her eyes betrayed the nature of her words.

“and you.” one last kiss to her forehead—rushed, for he feared keeping them from everyone and everything longer still.

[deardouceline]

“Sevestre, my good man, it certainly has been much too long.” 

The veil did nothing to conceal the man’s scowl in the other’s direction. Jannequinard had never been the brightest amongst the astrologians which he had no pleasure of encountering (that was, if the man could even consider himself as one). 

From the seamless arch of the bow he’d bestowed, the Ishgardian man raised his head with a pleasant smile. Sevestre remained on his guard, for he knew that, while Jannequinard himself posed little no threat to his own person, he was unfortunately allied with many who could, and certainly had. Those dismal days he’d spent in Coerthas had done nothing but sent him home empty-handed, to the chagrin of his allies in the Forum.

“Frankly, it hasn’t been long enough.” He grumbled, as he slammed the tome shut, tucking it between his forearm and side.

“Come to boast of your glory, Durendaire?” The name held far less meaning here, so far away from the Holy See-turned-Republic. Finally, a wicked grin perked from the corner of his mouth.

“Not mine, my good man—” Somewhere there had to be a twinge of sarcasm in the man’s tone, but it irritated Sevestre further that he had yet to find it. Could the dolt be even worse than he’d believed? The dreaded answer to that question only served to make the man the greater fool, for being bested by the fool who called his almost-murderer a good man not once, but twice. 

“—but of darling Douceline’s!” Oh, that damned familiarity. Somehow, the implications of such a descriptor irked the Hyuran man further—just when he believed the lordling couldn’t possibly irritate him further.

“A pity that you arrived a moment too late.” He rolled his eyes. Her name and her deeds were on the tongue of every citizen and visitor ever since the star had been saved-due in great part to her and her compatriots. Of course it was a massive feat. But he’d be damned before he would admit it out loud.

“On the contrary—” Sevestre flinched as he turned, fearing that he would be once again called a good man.

“I’ve arrived just on time, have I not? I had hoped to be here for much longer but alas, matters at home called for my return—” He pouted as he took to following the man-draped-in-white up the steps of the forum chamber and out onto the circular corridor that led to the exit, and the touch of bounding sunshine caused Sevestre to dip his head lower at its unbearably joyful weight. It was as if very nature, too, celebrated the second chance to exist a moment longer.

“—but it seems the festivities have just begun. Now, she’s with the Lady of House Leveilleur for a spot of tea, but I do believe I’ll be accompanying her on the next—for the time being, she’s gone with the twins and that dragoon Esth—Estaine—”

“That’s all well and good.” Sevestre coughed behind his fist, trudging for the downwards steps that led towards the Noumenon, where his mammets had surely accomplished their task in finding that tome he requested. 

“’Tis about high time you found the others, then.” A wave of his hand, as if gesturing to a stray dog. If Leveva had come, too, then he wished to do away with the presence of this blithering idiot as soon as possible. His day had been ruined plenty.

“You ought to brighten up a bit, my good man!” There it was again, this time paired with a blinding grin and both his hands raised in the air.

“What’s the point of another dismal day in the library when you could be in the company of others—ah, gallivanting and the like—”

“Might I remind you that unlike yourself, I am not one for such sort.” This time he broke his professional disposition and jabbed his forefinger against the other man’s chest, thrusting his head forward with a pronounced sneer at the last word.

“Then it might be time to try something new.” Jannequinard grinned brighter, and to see it up close drove a maddening shiver up the shorter man’s spine. If only Jannequinard had a modicum of intellect that was imperative for their profession, he surely might have seen it.

But it was in Sevestre’s favor—and whatever remained of his honor after that fateful day in the Hinterlands—that he lacked it.

Lower lip trembling and eyes practically aglow in rage, he simply turned at a much faster pace down the blasted steps towards the lush green of the Isle’s academic quarter, and by some miracle he could no longer hear Jannequinard’s own, enthusiastic footsteps in near-tandem with his own. He didn’t dare to peek at the corner of his vision, but he could practically feel the man’s laughter on his shoulder, which further egged him to rush away as fast as he could, unwilling to be made a scene of with so many witnesses present.

“I’ll send Lord Rufin your regards!”

[prettiestparadox]

WISH.

isekai!serafina au. haurchefant has a crush. takes place in ARR (2.0).  

“i came here on a wish, actually.” 

she sits across from him, pale hands cradling a cup of his own hot chocolate.

“i’m sure you’ve heard a tale like this before, many times...”  bashfully, her eyes dip to the floor, avoiding his forever curious gaze. unlike his countrymen, he is far more fervent in his interest of outsiders, a quirk that earned him a familiar notoriety. perhaps that was why she chose to look away, because of his prying--for surely she couldn’t be unfamiliar with attention, for her looks alone could draw the attention of an entire room.

“true that may be, each have their own story, which i’m all the more blessed to hear for myself.” he beckons to her with an open hand. her tall-eared kind was rare in these parts, surely her tale had something different.

“what sort of wish was it that brought you all the way to coerthas?”

something tells him she’s a long way from home--the sparkle of awe in her grey-blue hues, the slight gape that parted her petal lips--the more he looked for an answer, the more content he was to keep guessing.

her gaze ventures downwards towards her reflection in the cocoa, but only for a few seconds.

“i was sheltered for a very long time. it was just me and my mother--” serafina halts herself, swallows, then continues. it still doesn’t sit right to talk about her this way, but this is the truth, plain and simple. but she struggles with maintaining a crisp and clear professional aura expected of someone in her position--like the pages of an open book flipping to the right chapter without a finger as a guide. she doesn’t think her judgment is always the best, so divulging about her past, as white of a lie as she can paint it, isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

“--it’s not that we didn’t get along, but i wanted to see more of everything. i read and read, but it’s nothing like actually being there. i ventured from home, and things happened...” vague as it was, referring to those life-changing events merely as ‘things’ would have felt odd to the clumsy-footed dancer she had begun as, to the clueless girl thrust into a brave new world.

“...and now here i am--with you.” a bit more direct that she’d intended, but she hides her embarrassment with the sweetest of smiles, a smile she knows and wears well, all the while clutching the mug higher to her lips.

“ah--thank you, again, for this...” the smile wears off in a tremble of a giggle right before her tongue touches the drink, casting a gaze in his direction before taking a sip of the cooled-down cocoa.

he’s frozen from across the table, mouth hanging and eyes starlit. he stays frozen while he watches her sip, then eagerly gulp at the sweet drink which he’d so thoroughly prepared, an even sweeter hum of contentment punctuating at the last drop. 

this new adventurer was adorable.

[winterwedded]

NANO DAY 1.

word count: 1113

hello! egg here. this is my very first time participating in nanowrimo. this is an odd format for my first day because this is an interview between a interview ‘I’ and my oc ‘S’, done a bit before she returns to her home country after studying at a university abroad (in the home country of her mother). 

this is my original verse set in semi-modern times with fantastical elements centered on a princess ‘S’ of a certain kingdom. the details are purposely vague because there’s still a lot i have touch on/formulate. 

nano will probably be very self indulgent for me in the way that i just push out things i’ve always wanted to write so hehe 

I: […] That being said I think I can speak for everyone when I can say ‘welcome home’.

S: Thank you. It’s good to be home.

I: How did you like it—being out of the capital?

S: It was definitely an eye opening experience, um, I think it would have been a lot harder if I’d gone alone. I’m grateful that I was able to go with some of my friends.

I: Your friends mean a lot to you?

S: [nodding] Oh yes very much—they mean the world to me.

I: Princess there has been talk about whether or not some of your companions are the most suitable for someone in ah—in a position such as yourself. Do you have anything to say to those who say so?

S: [pause] I think we’re bound to meet people we don’t always get along with—but sometimes we meet people who can come from different places and have different ideas, and still become close to. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all that we can be friends even if we have our differences in fact—I think it says something on both ends to make something like that work, you know?

I: I see. You seem to have learned a lot from being away for so long.

S: Hee. Are you sure it isn’t just me being defensive?

I: [laughs] You might have caught me there, Princess. Were you able to make new friends there as well?

S: I certainly did. Like I said it was a really eye-opening experience—I know many believed that I should have stayed within the kingdom to study, but I really wanted to go to where Ma—my mother came from to understand it too.

I: You seem like more of a go-getter than people believed you to be.

S: [giggles] It took a lot of effort. I’ve always wanted to go to Hvidfyr because of her but I took a lot of time to think about it.

I: Were you afraid of bringing it up to your grandfather?

S: [nods] I was.

I: People seem to consider you as a bridge of sorts between the Kingdom and the Principality of Hvidfyr. I remember actually when they first declared that you were on the way—

S: [giggling and hiding her face a little behind the back of her hand] Oh god.

I: Don’t worry you were a very cute baby.

S: [laughing]

I: But in all seriousness, that seems like so much. Historically they’ve always been on contentious terms. The pressure of it must be immense.

S: [laughing ceases a bit, straightens herself in her seat] It is sometimes. I love both my parents a lot, they mean the world to me. The last thing I want is to have anything divide them as much as things already exist.

I: What about Hvidyfr did you enjoy the most?

S: …Obviously the pastries [laughs]. Their winters are beautiful, and the people I met there—the people I would say. I got to learn a lot from them. You know [fixes her hair behind her ear] someone like me who’s really introverted by nature can have a really hard time opening up entirely to people. I’m also worried I’ll miss the chance of a lifetime or an experience that I could have learned an awful lot from if I don’t just. Speak up when it matters. Being there for a longer amount of time helped me get over that a little, because I wasn’t in my usual place where I could run away to.

I: You’re a very thoughtful person! I’m sure they enjoyed your company too.

S: [giggling] I hope so.

I: Did you get to bond more with your family there as well?

S: [eyes sparkle] I did. I was so happy to be with my grandma—grandmother again. We have really great talks and it’s even better in person. I also loved seeing my uncles again. I felt like I could never see them enough being here in the kingdom.

I: What sorts of people did you meet at University? You joined the journalism club, if I recall correctly?

S: [nods] I did. Mostly because I wanted to learn more about how to talk to people. Ask the right questions, and such. Like what you’re doing right now.

I: [laughs] That’s right, it’s something you learn as you go along.

S: I’ve always been such a book-minded person and now I’m regretting I’ve lost of a lot of time meant for actual experiences. Hands-on, if you know what I mean.

I: It’s never too late for that sort of thing! You’re still quite young.

S: I hope so.

I: Did you enjoy being in the Journalism club?

S: [nodding] I loved it. I loved writing and talking in a lens that isn’t um. Isn’t subjected to one view. I think that’s really important for when you want to tell the cold facts. I think people’s opinions should be their own in such a media—the news and all, I mean. It’s so easy to skew the truth and I think that’s—that can be really terrifying.

I: Mm, it can be. So you got to interview your fellow students?

S: That and others. The locals, like small business owners and also just random citizens in the street. Especially for the opinion features. Those were kind of difficult because I would get recognized…[smiles down shyly] and so it might have distorted what they were going to say originally.

I: I feel as though that’s something you have to learn too, what with everyone knowing who you are. You have a very recognizable beauty.

S: [giggles] Stop it.

I: Did you meet anyone else interesting at University?

S: [eyes with a knowing smile] Are you asking if I have a boyfriend or girlfriend?

I: Everyone’s asking.

S: [bursts into laughs with dimples]

I: [laughing a bit too] Fess up now! The truth will out soon enough.

S: I know I know, I just. I want to take my time. You understand, right?

I: Of course. I think it’s wonderful you want to do that.

S: I’m not in a position where I can just rush into things after all. And me personally—I wouldn’t want that sort of thing either. I’m still a bit of a closed book before you get to know me. So I really want to get to know them too.

I: Completely understandable. But thank you so much for your time your Highness—and once again, welcome home.

S: [smiles and bows her head in a nod] Thank you so much.

[locdinhpro]

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[yenlyman]

Missed Axie Infinity? Don’t miss Kryptomon! Kryptomon is a play-to-earn game where you play with unique eggs (NFT) that will hatch on the 15th Oct, this one is expected to skyrocket!🚀🚀 To celebrate hatching day, Kryptomon is giving away 300,000 of their $KMON tokens FOR FREE for every participant in this activity. Yes - EVERYBODY WINS!!! In addition, every participant gets a chance to win 1 of 3 rare Kryptomon NFT eggs! Join me now, and get FREE $KMON tokens to start your Kryptomon trainer journey! I'm so eggcited! https://gleam.io/Akgel-zsFOr0BVSf?l=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3ADV3SO

[tienmx]

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[zephyrante-blog]

Missed Axie Infinity? Don’t miss Kryptomon! Kryptomon is a play-to-earn game where you play with unique eggs (NFT) that will hatch on the 15th Oct, this one is expected to skyrocket!🚀🚀 To celebrate hatching day, Kryptomon is giving away 300,000 of their $KMON tokens FOR FREE for every participant in this activity. Yes - EVERYBODY WINS!!! In addition, every participant gets a chance to win 1 of 3 rare Kryptomon NFT eggs! Join me now, and get FREE $KMON tokens to start your Kryptomon trainer journey! I'm so eggcited! https://gleam.io/Akgel-O10zihyUh?l=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3ADV3SO

[yanaya797]

Missed Axie Infinity? Don’t miss Kryptomon! Kryptomon is a play-to-earn game where you play with unique eggs (NFT) that will hatch on the 15th Oct, this one is expected to skyrocket!🚀🚀 To celebrate hatching day, Kryptomon is giving away 300,000 of their $KMON tokens FOR FREE for every participant in this activity. Yes - EVERYBODY WINS!!! In addition, every participant gets a chance to win 1 of 3 rare Kryptomon NFT eggs! Join me now, and get FREE $KMON tokens to start your Kryptomon trainer journey! I'm so eggcited! https://gleam.io/Akgel-fcmIYNF9n2?l=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3ADV3SO

[ascalonsmercy]

9/07: NOISOME.

adjective: disagreeable; unpleasant.

rating: t

characters: donatien de dansereau

tags: introspection, some donny musings, itty bitty character study

summary: everyone has their fun and so can he.

wordcount: 181

Donatien supposed this would be inevitable—it seemed every Dansereau was doomed to be the topic of noisome gossip one way or another. Still, he liked to imagine he handled it far better than the others would. There was much fun in ambiguity and he delighted in the idea of others being perplexed—if not mortified by what had become of the late Baron Dansereau’s youngest.

He supposed he enjoyed attention to a moderate amount. There was a solace in the solitude of his private room that no person could give him and he preferred it that way. By nature he knew himself to be selfish: the treachery of being such a person while in the profession that called for one to serve wholeheartedly was agony for most, but for him it was sheer entertainment. He liked watching the metamorphosis of conviction into conflict as his suspects lost hope to his interrogations. Most everyone ought to experience such a feeling of utter dread in their lives—brought at their lowest with no one or nothing to turn to.

Aside from the Fury, of course.

[frostsong]

9—06: ONEROUS.

adjective: (of a task, duty, or responsibility) involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome.

rating: t

characters: archombadin de dzemael, original characters, douceline de dansereau

tags: archombadin/douceline, pre-endwalker, the wol finally gets to take her bf with her on her travels

summary: it was high time he saw things the way she saw it—or at least, saw things up close.

wordcount: 786

“...i’ll need to leave again soon.” 

“where?” his brow furrowed. there were many reasons that signaled her lie, her half-truth—regardless of what it was archombadin knew it all to be the same: deception. he would’ve thought her to know better. after all, it hadn’t been so long ago that they—that she—had uncovered the greatest deception in their lives. he could always count on douceline to be sincere, and he liked to think he was one of those who could see right through her when something else was on her mind.

“...dou. what’s happening now?” archombadin couldn’t hide the growing irritation in his voice. it wasn’t meant for her. rather, whatever it was that would inevitably cause her strife once more—these days it seemed like all of eorzea wanted something from her, at the risk of—well, everything. the two of them had discussed her obligations before, face to face and over the linkpearl and through countless letters that he kept locked in a lacquer box she’d sent his way from her time in kugane—

it had to be one of those things easier said than done. 

“...sharlayan. i told you about what happened at stillglade fane…” focused were her eyes as she raised her head to look at him once more. this time, he sensed nary a breath of hesitance—the way he wanted it, the way he knew her to be.

“...with leveilleur.” he nodded. 

“they have the answers. whether or not they’ll tell us, we’ll find out.” douceline’s breath fell to a hushed whisper as he felt the gravity of her situation, the drum of her heartbeat—and his own mimicked in turn, right down to what weighed heavy on his chest—pure, wretched trepidation. he would have to settle for the faint scent of lavender on dried ink, for the crackle that came with her voice from malms and mountains and seas away. 

“...this is a purely diplomatic visit, is it not?” it slips off his tongue too fast for him to think—foolish, utterly foolish, and he knows that—but the repercussions, he thinks, are worth the risk. the rising desperation that suddenly made it difficult for him to even raise his tongue was at a boiling point. archombadin would simply be at home and await their next correspondence, all the while managing the affairs of the dorm and the student body along with the others. he knew this, he’d lived this, and yet—

(he doesn’t realize his gaze has fallen from her dusky-rose hues and onto her pendant—his earring—chipped from her encounter with the crown prince of garlemald at ghimlyt.)

“it’s…meant to be.” she closed her lips and swallowed tight.

“i hope we don’t need to resort to anything more…drastic.” she sighed, knowing full well that they had done so before—and would do so again, if needed.

“do you plan on crossing paths with that man again. sevestre,” his teeth bit the name of the pale-haired hyur who had seemed all too enthusiastic about ending her and the others from the astrologicum. 

“i don't plan on it—but i’ve a feeling it will happen regardless…lev—lord rufin said he was a member of the forum.” he blinked, but let it slip, for he was still too occupied with the topic at hand to entertain a tangent.

“i’ve a few choice words—”

“then i simply cannot take you with me.” her sweet lips dipped in a low scowl, that her prominent cupid’s bow became the high-point of her small mouth.

“that’s what you were going to ask me, wasn’t it?” he froze, tongue stilled behind lips slightly parted. in his efforts to try and unravel her thinking, she had turned his tactic against him, right at his moment of vulnerability. 

he sighed, the quiet humiliation doing its part to humble him once more. dearest douceline was unchanged in some things—arguably improved in said things, even.

“...i concede.”

“that you will. but i need you to promise me you won’t do anything to jeopardize this. you know it’s—”

“—of the utmost importance.” he nodded, curtly—already he was making a mental note of what to pack, what to delegate, what to tell his parents, the student body—not that it would be difficult to have anyone understand the very serious business of accompanying the warrior of light on her travels. before he hadn’t a proper excuse—much less a proper reason—to join her, but now was the long awaited chance that he simply couldn’t afford to miss.

most importantly, she initiated it—she wanted him there. no matter the reason—whether or not he could contribute in a way that was useful—all of it came second, selfishly so, to her wanting him at her side at those pivotal moments, far away from the land they called home.

[deardouceline]

❛ if  you  ever  find  a  moment ,  spare  a  thought  for  me . ❜

“It’s not a matter of if.” Her smile pressed wider, something brightening in her eyes. Something like the light caught in budding tears.

“When.” He corrects, raising a gloved finger to the edge of her eye, which she refused with a shake of her head.

“Not even that. You’re always on my mind, whether you like it or not.” At this, he scoffed, lips barely parted in a subtle smile.

“I suppose this helps.” A downward jut of his chin at the pendant that hung from her neck—a charm identical to that of his earrings. 

“Even without it.” 

“Now...I wouldn’t want to be a distraction.” A half-truth, evident in how he could only chuckle instead of laugh at such a conclusion.

“It’s all I have instead of you right there with me.” She blinked, and for a moment her smile ceased. The lordling felt guilt rising in his chest, reminded once again of his own limitations, due in no small part to the sheltered, narrow-minded upbringing that had been the imperative for a boy of his peerage. Douceline would be leaving-not forever, of course-but for a poignant, pivotal time. Regardless of who and what all this was meant to support, he had a feeling their homeland would feel some after-effects of whatever was to take place.

“...And besides. Not everyone is as fit for stimulating debate as you.” At that, their mouths mirrored in a coy smile. Not many beyond the Scholasticate knew of the competitiveness that had brewed since the day they first met, from bitter to sweet and bitter again-to the intoxicating blend that they could no longer deny.

“I’ll pass that onto the others, thank you very much.” His hands came to rest at her back, and by reflex, hers went to his chest. Surely she must have felt his heart thudding under her palm, though he supposed any closer and she might as well have heard each quickening thud.

“Don’t oversell yourself.” Her smile sunk in a feigned pout, chin atop one polished button of his uniform overcoat.

“You know that’s just what Cramm would want you to do-right before he reveals something meant to catch you off guard. Something he wasn’t supposed to see.” He clicked his tongue and drew her closer.

“This is the fifth time I’ve had to hide the dorm keys elsewhere.” 

“I think it’s the servants this time.” Douceline tilted her head.

“Blaisie was asking me about the grape and your cousin’s dog. That was at the Rook.” 

“Wha-”

The chime of the bell at the airship’s counter turned both their heads back towards the landing, where the area that once held heaps of packages now stood vacant. He swallowed, turning to face her once again, and her eyes lingered on the airship for a little while longer before she met his gaze. Though he’d initially dreaded—detested—the slits of her pupils, the faded rose-pink was the same color, as was the heart-shaped curve of her face, the blush of her nose, the sound of her voice...

He would grow to miss it all, as even his praiseworthy memory could only account for so much-at least, compared to having her there with him in the flesh.

“Fury keep you. Hale and whole.” Before she could respond, he brought her right hand to his lips. 

He couldn’t even bring himself to say goodbye. All things considered-he never got to the first time they parted, and by some incomprehensible fear he held himself back from saying so again, as if it would bear the same ill-fortune.

What he received instead was a kiss—on his lips, warm and soft and featherlight in way that he could only compare to the snowflakes that fell even in a bright, kindly sun—

When he opened his eyes, her arms were wrapped around his neck (to hoist herself up, as to reach his mouth)—and his hands cradled her face, and he tilted her head backwards ever so slightly as to look at her longer, drinking in the image of her as if she were the Fury herself, glorious in the vibrantly-colored stained-glass of the grand cathedral.

“I’ll be back sooner than you know it.” She spoke, softer and quieter than usual, as if the touch of the kiss was something she wanted to remain on her tongue for as long as possible.

“...It wouldn’t do to hope too often, then. Lest I delay your return.” Archombadin smiled, gloved thumb tracing the dip of her chin to the crease of her mouth’s edge, and she exhaled softly, and her eyelids sank halfway as her hand remained on his wrist, counting the seconds before they inevitably parted.

He didn’t dare to dwell longer at the landing once the airship was out of sight. 

There was still work to be done, and he would do his part. 

He would do it better than he had before.

[prettiestparadox]

Serafina wonders if she’ll ever fully accept the idea of him loving her. 

Her mother would often cup her cheeks as a child and proclaim wholeheartedly how no man would be good enough for her. Now that she’s older, she has a mind to think that the woman had said that in part to keep her from venturing beyond her warm yet suffocating embrace. But still she dared to, and for all she’s both suffered and achieved Serafina could have never dreamed to be where she is right now, nestled in the strong arms of a man who was good enough for her, if not better.

Though he’s beyond her expectations he still had his flaws: working long hours into the night and throwing himself into life-threatening situations seemingly without a smidgen of concern for his own well being--nor the collateral damage it could cause to those who depended on him. It exasperates her, Lucia, Estinien--and the rest of who cared for him beyond the seat he occupied as Lord Commander. 

Odd as it is, his flaws are partly responsible for what drew her to him on a personal level, given that his station had initially imposed an air of professionalism between them. But even then on their first meeting in the Intercessory she sensed his interest in her by the way his eyes fixated on her and her only, as if everyone and everything else in the room had dissipated--and his eyes are the same even now, a blue akin to fresh, moving rivers freed from their ice. Serafina was not unaccustomed to having eyes on her but with him it’s different, because she wants him to keep looking. 

“Is there something on my face?” The edge of his mouth curves in a smile as her hand rests against the side of his handsomely-angled face, thumb against his cheekbone. 

“...I daresay your eyelashes are longer than mine.” She breathes a giggle as her index finger brushes against the outer corner of his eyelid.

“That’s saying something, you know. The other children always used to tease me for the same thing.” 

“I think it would’ve been an adorable sight,” He chuckles, the arm behind her back shifting her closer against his bare chest.

“Oh not you too.” She pouts, chin propped atop his sternum, forearms resting against his torso.

“Everyone calls me that. I’m getting rather sick of it.” Her other titles--the ones she actually sweat and bled to earn--were a welcome reprieve from the terms of endearment with which she’d endured on a day to day basis. Part of it was that, more often than not, such sweet words served to underestimate her. Lately Serafina has faced more than enough doubt on her own, and she has had more than her far share of detractors for reasons that held more weight than a heart-shaped face and a button nose.

“I say it because I mean it.” His lips touch her forehead, and his smile feels softer on her skin.

“And besides, knowing you now has given me the privilege of seeing your other fine qualities.” Her ears perked slightly. Ironic how just a few seconds ago she denounced a certain kind of praise--but this is Aymeric’s praise, and if she were to judge based on everything that has happened so far, it’s bound to be different in the best kind of way.

“Which are...?”

“Your passion. How you’re driven to do what is needed, for the good of others...” Lovingly his fingers smooth out the loose, long waves of her ash-pink hair, and she bobs her head backwards into his touch. 

“Your optimism--it uplifts everyone around you, and it serves you well in raising morale.” Radiant, he thinks, like sunlight that cascaded in beams through the glass of tall cathedral windows.

“...and your smile.” She rolls her eyes playfully at how he couldn’t go without being outright hopeless--but hopeless and hopeful is just what they are. Why they’re together, and why all of Ishgard as they know it rests their hopes and dreams on their shoulders, which they held stalwart before the masses, which they only allowed to falter before each other. 

“Not a night passes where it doesn’t cross my mind.” Aymeric’s voice lowers for only her to hear, though she’s certain there’s no one else in the room to begin with--except possibly his sour-faced cat.

“Somehow it never fails to cease the cold nights.” 

“Like a charm, then?” Her eyes shut as her ear pressed against his heart.

“To guarantee you a good night’s sleep?” 

“Certainly.” He keeps his smile just as he keeps his gaze so lovingly glued to her, admiring the subtle allure of how her eyes shone brighter with how her visage shielded the candlelight from where it flickered on the nightstand.

“A good luck charm.” She puffs, through her nose, as a creeping weight drags her eyes downwards.

“...I’m glad I could do it for someone.” He frowns at the telltale sign of her self-deprecation. 

“You are doing more than you give yourself credit for.” Sensing her shoulder blades tense, he shifted in his hand in soothing circles over the slope of her back.

“None of this can be achieved in a day. But know you were wronged. It wasn’t your doing, nor was there anything you could have done.” She bit her lip and nuzzled further into the tight heat of his chest. She hated how the night at the banquet still has its hold on her, and even with how she was slowly but surely beginning to reclaim her resolve it still hung over her like a foreboding moon. “...And yet your found your footing, and even gave your hand in aid to those around you--complete strangers whom you knew nothing of.” He spoke of those in the Foundation, in the Pillars, in the Brume--those who had their hearts touched by an outsider, by the Warrior of Light, by Serafina. 

As the circling motion of his palm eased upwards, his fingers crowned at the back of her neck, tresses of her mane caught in-between, goading her to meet his eyes. Still transfixed as ever, and now he sought the same from her; thankfully, he wasn’t left waiting for long, the longing in her gaze doubled by how her legs were still caught around his waist.

“...I could go on.” He whispers, his breath hot on the underside of her chin. His lips are so tantalizingly close to her neck that she’s sure he could feel her swallow in anticipation.

She closes her eyes and breathes him in. 

“I didn’t tell you to stop.”

[hoti7]

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[armmandehero]

Missed Axie Infinity? Don’t miss Kryptomon! Kryptomon is a play-to-earn game where you play with unique eggs (NFT) that will hatch on the 15th Oct, this one is expected to skyrocket!🚀🚀 To celebrate hatching day, Kryptomon is giving away 300,000 of their $KMON tokens FOR FREE for every participant in this activity. Yes - EVERYBODY WINS!!! In addition, every participant gets a chance to win 1 of 3 rare Kryptomon NFT eggs! Join me now, and get FREE $KMON tokens to start your Kryptomon trainer journey! I'm so eggcited! https://gleam.io/Akgel-RJWy96cOBy?l=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3ADV3SO