#hallowshaped

[tenacquity]

@hallowshaped || cont.

Ryunosuke had come a long way since first arriving in London.

In every manner of the word: his confidence in the courtroom, his trust in both himself and his clients, and—so he thought (or perhaps simply hoped)—his ability to keep his chin raised, his back straight, his expression steady under the distinctive coldness that resided in the so-called Reaper of the Bailey’s unwavering leer. On that last point, he rather liked believing he’d at least improved. Enough to stand before the towering man and not feel a tremor up his spine (and yet there was something… not trepidation, but a static energy humming just barely beneath his skin, nevertheless).

But as van Zieks began to speak from behind the veil of his cloak, voice deep and smooth, each and every word felt like a chip in the young lawyer’s composure. He practically flinched at one accusation, clenched his teeth at another, eventually found his attention slipping to the ground as if it were all the more interesting—and quietly, he mused that he was rather unused to seeing the prosecutor’s boots from this angle. Former confidence staggered into sheepishness, but when the color likely should’ve drained from his face…

By the time the long list of transgressions culminated into a single statement of gratitude, faint warmth blossomed in his cheeks. And Ryunosuke looked back up with no hesitation.

The delicate smile tugging at his lips might’ve mirrored van Zieks’s, if not for the latter’s remaining hidden. He listened with a new attentiveness—he’d even claim it to be fondness after all this time: for a man who used to terrify him viscerally—and some part of him wanted to laugh. Not at him. Not at any specific thing he’d said or was going to say. But when Ryunosuke took even a moment to think about it: they’d both come a long way, hadn’t they?

—considering that Lord van Zieks hadn’t stopped talking for the past several minutes without any intervention from the other side. And not even in the courtroom setting, prim and poised and proper (most of the time; today was an exception) behind his stand. Proof, if proof were needed, of how little of a bother Ryunosuke actually was despite the mentioned troubles he’d caused. Seeing this, that deflated confidence began to swell yet again.

His tentative smile grew at the same time as the prosecutor finally made his face visible.

“So, what you mean to tell me is that you were well aware of when I’d presumably be leaving,” Ryunosuke ventured, and his head canted almost challengingly while he steeled the other’s gaze, “but chose to ignore it altogether with the assumption I wouldn’t be bothered by it.” He didn’t care to add a questioning lilt to the end of that: it was a statement, firm and resolute. As much of a truth as anything he chased for the sake of his clients. And no different than those cases, Ryunosuke was determined not to let van Zieks get away with anything he could catch. (So far a shared sentiment, it would appear.)

His arms folded neatly behind his back, and without breaking that solid eye contact now, Ryunosuke moved one small step closer: a full, fluid motion that started with the slightest bend of his back and ended with his gaze now having to flick upward. “You don’t and never have owed me anything, Lord van Zieks,” he said, soft and earnest. “I didn’t stay because I required something more from you; goodness, you’ve done enough as it is. But I would be lying if I claimed you weren’t, in some way, part of the reason I’m still here.”

[howthesleeplesswander]

𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄.

Share at least 5 songs that you associate with or remind you of your muse!

XIAO

Song of the Abyss - Aviators

Ghosts - Nathan Wagner

Meet Me On the Battlefield - SVRCINA

Never Ending Nightmare - Citizen Soldier

Answer the Call - Hidden Citizens

FINN

Raise Hell - Dorothy

Youth - Daughter

Reckless - Valley of Wolves

Talk Too Much - COIN

Tattoos - Citizen Soldier

tagged by: @luzofstars ((thanks so much for tagging me! >3</))

tagging: @badboysupr | @earthssprout | @yukikorogashi | @theoneandonii | @drolliic (for Aether!) | @ama-tcra-su | @hallowshaped | @bitbrumal (for Khioniya!) | @strdstd (for Dain!) | and anyone else who sees this and would like to! uwu/

[enccrypted]

hi all ! taking it slow on crypto whilst i'm currently on my multimuse, @hallowshaped :) it's primarily featuring barok van zieks from the great ace attorney, but I will be trying and adding some apex legends characters :)

currently just working with caustic, but happy to try threads if anyone's been needing threads with a particular apex muse!

[tenacquity]

Standing this close to the Reaper of the Bailey would’ve—many, many months ago—been rightly terrifying and very likely a sure sign Ryunosuke’s time in London was going to be cut short (if not by the hand of Lord van Zieks [nothing gruesome, mind you, but just his ability to make the defense lawyer look like a clown in the courtroom], then by Ryunosuke himself ducking and running). Even at a distance—especially behind his podium—he’d always carried that sinister aura: a man who wouldn’t be trifled with. A man who had it out, from the beginning, for that “upstart” of a student who had the gall to assert himself in any manner.

Without so tight a hold on his determination, on his loyalty to his best friend, Ryunosuke often wondered just where he would’ve ended up. (Would the Reaper have successfully frightened him back to Japan with enough of those debilitating looks, those icy remarks? I ought to thank both Kazuma and Susato-san for lending me the strength I needed, he mused briefly.) As things were, though, he had no regrets. And when he closed even that minuscule shred of distance between them, that little tingle behind his sternum had nothing to do with fear.

Oh, Ryunosuke liked to think he was getting to know this man. Piece by piece. Little threads left for him to pick up and weave together—and most assuredly without intention, most of the time. He was less of a mystery now, more of an overwhelming curiosity that bled into all of his advances, into that confidence that drove him to not only stand his ground, but press forward. Too closely, Ryunosuke watched those shifts in demeanor, listened to the weight carrying out van Zieks’s latest sigh. It wasn’t annoyance.

Hm…What was that?

He wasn’t bothered by the other’s announcement of lacking all “obligations” to him, not at all deterred by what could have—in the past—been a sign the conversation was over: nothing left to discuss. Instead, Ryunosuke maintained his attentive silence as he waited for the prosecutor to say more; somehow, he knew there would be more. And yes, there after a few awkward pauses, a fresh sentiment eased into the air—something that was… well, surprising in an entirely new way. Enough for Ryunosuke to lose his grasp of any coherent words with which to answer him, momentarily.

Hopefully, he’d wiped the genuine surprise off his face swiftly enough to not be too much of a display. “That’s… awfully generous of you, Lord van Zieks,” he breathed, humbling himself then with a grateful dip of his head. “And, I might add, very easy to take advantage of, but— I-I’ll not do that to you.” Anyone close to him would vouch for his propensity to be indulgent, given the opportunity. He didn’t plan on bringing van Zieks into that particular circle of knowledge. (What was he to do if this man suddenly started doting on him?)

A smile snuck back onto his features, as he then in that moment realized one particular thing he would very much like. “Well, now that you mention it, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” Ryunosuke ventured, “I’d be interested to see if we might find time outside the courtroom to spend in each other’s company.” There, again, his confidence stuttered, forcing him to briefly glance away. “I-if— that would be okay, of course. It wouldn’t have to be immediate, but… I’d rather like that, should it be possible.”

Naruhodo raised his head at last. Good. A better look on the lawyer than those anxiously darting eyes or the usual self-deprecatory sag of his shoulders. He much preferred to see Naruhodo's eyes — though they were so worrisomely wide that Barok wondered if they might pop from their sockets — rather than the top of his head.

( ... What a bizarre thought, when he had wrongly despised the man only months ago. But Naruhodo seemed exceptionally skilled at bringing out the strangest impulses in him. But it wasn't so unusual, was it...? Of course he would rather that Naruhodo didn't fear him. )

❛ I assure you, it's nothing against you, my learned friend.‏‏‎ ‎❜ Not anymore, at least. But therein was the very root of the problem. ❛‏‏‎ ‎I simply exercised common sense. You of all people know better than anyone that I haven't always been... kind to you and your countrymen. Inviting myself seemed inappropriate at best.‏‏‎ ‎❜

Cruel, at worst. No way to return Naruhodo's grace, after all the man had done for him. But it was Naruhodo who had come back to the Old Bailey despite it all, and it was him who had invited Barok here to the defendants' antechamber. He couldn't know what had spurred Naruhodo on — it would be a feat indeed, to claim to know the workings of that man's mind —but Barok could be sure now that his presence was neither overwhelming nor unwelcoming. He would not squander what time Naruhodo had left in London.

It was only a step, but Barok felt as though Naruhodo had suddenly swarmed him. They were much too close now, more than they had ever been. ( Enough that the smell of lavender assaulted his senses. Was that the smell of Naruhodo? ) Were Barok not cornered, he might have stumbled back. As it was, there was no way to turn his eyes elsewhere without effectively backing down. Naruhodo really had become too confident.

He shut his eyes — the better alternative to averting his gaze from Naruhodo's — letting the cloak fall entirely as he crossed his arms and huffed a practised, weary sigh.

❛ Do not misunderstand me. I am under no impression that I hold any obligation to you.‏‏‎ ‎❜

God forbid that Naruhodo suddenly believed himself in possession of some ridiculous, newfound power over Barok. There was perhaps only one other man in the world who could be less trusted with that sort of dangerous assumption. Thankfully the great detective, attached to flatmate's hip as he usually was, had not yet arrived to make a nuisance of himself yet. But Barok hastened their conversation nevertheless; one could never be so sure.

( And the sooner they moved on, the sooner Naruhodo would uncage him. Then he would break free from those eyes, that glowing smile, and that mesmerising scent of lavender that was making his head spin.

❛ ... This is my own choice entirely.‎ ❜ A chance to extend a final thanks to the man that Barok had so horribly misjudged, before Naruhodo set off to Japan. For whatever reason, he had been given this opportunity... and he did not intend to waste it.

Don't be ridiculous, he was tempted to retort. What have I ever done for you? Naruhodo's habit of spinning cheery tales from nothingness was all at once impressive and bewildering. But Barok fought the urge and held his tongue.

❛ Anything that you want, Mr Naruhodo — if it is within my power, then consider it yours.‏‏‎ ‎❜ Within reason went unspoken, but surely Naruhodo understood that much.

[howthesleeplesswander]

CHARACTER STATS FRAMEWORK

NAME: Amaya Navarro

NICKNAMES: Queen of Rosas, Your Majesty, Your Highness, darling (by Magnifico), queen of my heart (by me and also probably Magnifico lbr 🤝 asdlkfj)

AGE: Late 40s

BIRTHDATE: Unknown

SPECIES: Human

NATIONALITY: Hispanic

GENDER: Female

PREFERRED PRONOUNS: She/Her

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Heteroromantic

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: Heterosexual

FACE CLAIM: None bc I'm too lazy to hunt for one 😂 maybe someday!

PARENTS: Antonia (Mother; deceased) and Tomás (Father; deceased)

SIBLINGS: Adela (Younger sister; missing, presumed deceased)

SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: Magnifico (Beloved hubby (ʃƪ ˘ ³˘) 💕)

CHILDREN: None

OTHER FAMILY: Renata (Grandmother; deceased), Nilo (Grandfather; deceased)

EYE COLOR(S): Brown

HAIR COLOR(S): Brown

HEIGHT: 5'7"

WEIGHT: Probably a bit less than average for her height

BODY BUILD: She's naturally slender with all the grace and poise of a dancer. She spends most of her time being up on her feet performing various duties for the people and overseeing the peace and prosperity of Rosas, which does well at keeping her fairly fit.

tagged by: @yukikorogashi (Thanks, hon! >w</)

tagging: @tenacquity @idyllicserendipity (for Belle! I'm doing tag-backs and no one can stop me) @hallowshaped (for van Zieks!) @theoneandonii @luzofstars (for Cyno!) @erabundus @strdstd (for Dain!) @grislyintentions (for Layla!) and YOU if you want to do it! ^w^/