#naia x brea

[fiorimaya]

omg it's been so long since I've seen an active TDC blog!! if you're comfortable with answering, what are your favorite ships? (canon or otherwise)

There's sadly not many active here anymore and that makes me so sad! :( I definitely don't plan on going anywhere myself! We need to keep this fandom alive! My favorite ship from AoR is definitely Stonegrot (and Rian and Deet are my two favorite characters from the series). And along with them, my other top favorite ship from The Dark Crystal universe overall is definitely Jen and Kira! <3

Like I said, those two are my favorites. But I literally love every ship haha! I love RoyalMelody (BreaxKylan) and Drenchgrot (AmrixNaia). The last few weeks, RoyalHimbo (SeladonxGurjin) has been growing on me a lot too! I haven't finished the YA series yet but I'm very aware of Tavra and Onica and they sound so lovely :') Tavra deserved better.

And while I am a hardcore Stonegrot supporter, I did love Rian and Mira for the short time we saw them together and I wish we could have seen more of them! :( Mira deserved better, too.

[hegaveyoubones]

This is my first attempt at digital art!! I saw a post by @incorrectdarkcrystal and just had to draw it!

[your-super-paper-grandma]

Naia x Brea because why not

because...   WHY YESSSS!!! 💘💘💘

[aughraseye]

Naia+Brea for 12

Thanks for the ask anon! I hope you like it! I’ve never written for these two before, and it was a lot of fun. I also had another request for Naia + books and I’m counting them both as this fic. Thanks again!

You’re an Open Book, But I Can’t Read

Naia’s palm pressed heavy against her cheek. She was sitting in one of the smaller meeting rooms at Stone-in-the-Wood, elbow propped on a hard wooden table, listening to Brea read.

Though she was doing her best to focus, the fingers of the hand not holding her face twitched below the table. Biting the inside of her cheek she forced her gaze back to the princess.

Brea’s voice was soft and lilting as she read, and her silver hair shone brightly in the afternoon light streaming through the nearby window.

As she continued to read, she glanced up and smiled softly as their eyes met.

Naia did her best to return it. But she felt tense and irritated, and she wasn’t sure that it didn’t show on her face.

For the past few weeks the princess had made a habit of pulling Naia aside to share some scroll, or poem, or passage. She seemed always around a corner or a just trailing behind, toting the next book she felt Naia needed to hear.

Sometimes she would take hold of Naia’s wrist and drag her off somewhere so she could read to her aloud. Other times, Brea would sit beside her so close that their thighs pressed together as she showed Naia the scrawling words on the page. Other times still she would wait until Naia was sitting alone and then take the seat across from her, unloading stacks of heavy books - like today.

Naia sighed, quick to flash Brea another easy smile as the princess looked up at the sound.

She just didn’t understand where this habit, or inclination, or whatever it was had come from. Brea wasn’t really teaching her to read. And if that was what she was doing she was a poor teacher. Besides if Naia had wanted to learn she would have gone to Kylan first.

She just read aloud as Naia listened patiently.

At first, it hadn’t bothered her. She even liked it. She liked the way Brea’s voice changed cadence as she spoke, rising in parts to something animated and joyful and in other parts slowing and careful to draw out each word.

But the longer it went on, the less sure Naia was about why it was happening at all. And that made her uneasy.

When she’d asked Kylan, he’d said that Brea was probably just trying to be friendly. That for the Vapra, who were meant to be cultured and refined, sharing a written work with a friend or possible friend was something common.

But to Naia, Vapra and their books were all soft talk - roundabout and indirect and ultimately obscuring whatever point they were trying to make. And though she didn’t mind Brea’s voice, or the softness of her hands, or the warmth of her body as they sat side by side, she thought that reading flowery poetry and old tomes wasn’t a very good way to make friends.

She wasn’t sure that was what was happening anyway. Brea seemed friendly enough with Gurjin and Kylan and even Hup, but Naia was the only one she cordoned off and read to.

So she’d been meaning to say something, parse through why exactly the princess kept pulling her aside. But another part of her didn’t want to anything at all.

Drenchen hard talk wasn’t for everyone, she knew that. And though Naia wanted to understand Brea’s motivation, she also feared that the question might not be well received and Brea would stop reading to her altogether.  

Her mind raced, juggling pros and cons, playing out different scenarios, and wordings that a hard talking Drenchen had no practice using.

“Are you listening?”

Naia’s focus snapped back to the princess. Her book was shut and laying on the table.

“Hmm?”

Brea’s brow creased together and the corners of her mouth fell.

“If you don’t like this one I have others…”

She trailed off as she turned to dig through the other books stacked beside her. Naia watched her, the softer words she had thought of using forgotten as the question came out just as she meant it.

“Why do you want to read to me anyway?”

Brea lifted her head and their eyes met. The princess’s mouth opened and shut once then twice, and her eyes grew wide as her face flushed pink. Naia had never seen her at such a sudden loss for words.

Silence stretched out between them as Brea struggled to say anything other than brief syllables punctuated with more silence. All the while her face grew a deeper shade of pink.

Naia swallowed hard. There was a tightness in her chest, something like her earlier unease but stronger. She looked away and then back at the princess whose face was bright red and worried. She shouldn’t have asked, she thought. It had only made things more uncertain, more uncomfortable. So, she pushed her chair back slightly, making to get up and leave.

But before she could stand, Brea leaned across the table - flustered and hasty - her nose bumping past Naia’s as their lips pressed soft together.

The kiss was…unexpected, and Naia felt her eyes widen in surprise. But instead of moving away, she tilted forward so that the kiss grew firmer.

When she did slowly pull back, her eyes fluttered open to see Brea still leaning into the space between them, palms pressed flat against the table, eyes gently closed.

A moment passed and Naia just looked at Brea as she stood there, heart suddenly racing.

But as the princess’s eyes started to open, she stumbled backwards, covering her mouth with her hand.  

“I’m sorry, I just, you- I-”

The words were coming out fast and jumbled - the beginnings of a babble. And all at once Naia knew that it would be too many words for something that now seemed so clear.

So fast stepping around the other side of the table, she took Brea’s face in her hands and pulled her into another kiss. This one was harder and more sure than the last.

And when she moved back, hands falling away from the smooth skin of Brea’s face, the princess’s eyes were still lightly closed. Naia’s chest tightened at the sight.

Though she hadn’t really listened to the words Brea had been reading to her, as Naia watched her eyes open slowly, a shy smile spreading over her face, she thought she might be able to guess what they were about.

“So princess, what are you going to read for me now?”

[oz-the-sorcerer]

Royalmelody Social Media AU

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16

Part 17: warning

[imagin8]

Ship headcanons for the holidays! 🎅❄☃🎁

Stonegrot (Rian x Deet)

- after Deet was saved, they didn't get into a relationship right away, in fact it took them a while to become "official"

- With the sudden appearance of the garthim, the resistance just being formed and everything they've been through, it took a little while for them to straighten out their emotions.

- I feel like when the resistance comes to a hiatus of sorts is when they finally share their feelings for each other

- Deet initiates their first ever kiss, that is my stand until a season two says otherwise

- With what we've seen of Rian's flirting skills so far I just feel like Deet would be the one to do it

- Rian was a blushing stuttering mess lol

- They like to tease each other sometimes, Deet likes calling him all the day lighter names in the book

- Since this will take place during the Garthim war, free time is scarce. Any time they spend together is precious, whether it's something simple like a hug or the rare occasions that they actually get to go on dates

- Which might consist of small picnics or maybe some late night walks. Or just laying in a field talking about nothing in particular

- Rian is big spoon. That's it. He might be little spoon but only once or twice and no more

- They also sleep in the "sweetheart cradle" position a lot too

- Deet would wake up much earlier than Rian but sometimes she won't get up until Rian does and she might just lay there for an extra hour or so until he wakes up

- Rian loves kisses, giving and receiving. All kinds of kisses too forehead kisses, cheek kisses, deep long ones, playful pecks on the lips you name it. Like he would just be standing there doing his thing and then Deet would just walk up and kiss him and he wouldn't be able to stop himself from blushing or smiling.

- And then one hour later he will walk up to Deet and give her some kisses too

- Speaking of Deet she also loves kisses, she's more of a giver than a receiver but she loves getting them nonetheless

- I feel like whenever Rian gets hurt or is just reckless with his safety in general Deet would be the kind of person to be genuinely worried and then when finding out he's okay give him an hour long scolding on how he should be more careful

RoyalMelody (Brea x Kylan)

- Okay Rian and Deet took a little while to get together, but these guys are literally the biggest slow burn you'll ever see

- Like Kylan would just be literally staring at her with the biggest lovey doe eyes you'll ever see, and she would just either not notice or brush it off as something else

- This ship won't be as obvious as stonegrot either. It will be small doses of pining until we get to the big stuff so hold your horses.

- But eventually the mutual flirting will become way more obvious as time passes

- The first kiss will be random and maybe a little awkward (these babies have no experience, so be easy on them 😞)

- Kylan is just the sweetest thing, he will always ask her if she needs anything or if she is doing okay if she seems upset or under a lot of pressure.

- Sometimes Brea will try to say she is okay when she isn't so that way Kylan doesn't have to worry, he sees through her lies sometimes

- Kylan is a blanket hog during cold nights but Brea lets him have them, since she's is used to cold weather

- Kylan. Is. The. Little. Spoon.

- Actually Brea can be the little spoon sometimes…

- At first they were kinda weary about letting their relationship go out to anyone other than their friends, Brea was especially anxious about letting Seladon know, but as the days went on they started doing more PDA

- SPEAKING OF PDA..!!!

- Brea had to be the one to initiate it at the start

- Kylan would always get kinda nervous about overstepping boundaries and his face would turn red every time

- But eventually he got confident enough to hold her hand in public, he still needs to get used to other stuff

- Brea likes his songs and stories, sometimes he'll sing to her when she finds it hard to fall asleep, she'll memorize every new story he tells or comes up with

- Since Brea was raised in the life of royalty I don't think she has a whole lot of experience with cooking

- Luckily there's Kylan to help change that! Kind of… . It was a bit of a mess the first time

Royalhimbo (Seladon x Gurjin)

- these guys…

- It wasn't romantic at first

- More like some sort of friendship

- Both being kids of a Maudra I would assume they at least kinda knew each other? Maybe..?

- The fact that she said his name when they hugged indicates much since I don't think she would know or remember his name from their brief meet in the dream space (if you even call that a meeting)

- But if they didn't know each other beforehand then I suppose they got to know each other after the second battle of Stone in the Wood

- Seladon's first thoughts on Gurjin was that he was funny, but also a little obnoxious at times and she would never think in a million years that she would fall in love with a guy like him

- Boy was she wrong

- Gurjin kinda dropped hints that he liked her

- Dropping her random compliments in their conversations, finds excuses to try to be with her

- And she didn't think much of these little details, but she wasn't completely oblivious either.

- She didn't mind though, in fact she thought it was nice to have someone other than her sisters to just casually talk with

- However she didn't quite realize that she liked him back until she caught herself thinking about him, giggling over something funny he said earlier that day. That's when she was like "oh shit, I think I might like this guy"

- Okay so let's get one thing straight, Gurjin is way better at this flirting stuff than Seladon alright. She did not know any of this stuff and it was kinda cringey and awkward when she tried lol

- Gurjin likes to tease her sometimes,and he helps lighten her up when she feels too stressed or when she starts to doubt her capability of being all-Maudra

- They don't do spooning, however Seladon will just simple snuggle into Gurjin's shoulder as he pets her hair

- They secretly hold hands under the table

Drenchgrot (Naia x Amri)

- This isn't necessarily a headcanon but more of a thought, but didn't they technically have their first kiss in Tides where they had to save the tree in the Crystal Desert? Or are we just gonna write that off?? I'm just wondering

- Anyway, to the actual headcanons

- Amri would get along well with Pemma and Eliona, however Gurjin would act like he didn't really care and he kinda put on a little bit of that "protective brother" persona around him

- But we all know he liked him, he just didn't want to show it

- With Naia's healing vliyaya and Amri's concoctions, these guys were the medics of the resistance

- Doctor couple 💕

- Naia is the big spoon, Amri just snuggles up against her and it is the cutest thing

*this one seemed really short, sorry I kinda couldn't think of much.

Anyways thats all, I hope everyone had a great holiday season, love you all!

[tdc-incorrect-quotes]

Seladon: I kissed Gurjin.

Naia: Wow...

Naia: I owe Brea so much money.

[heathlegders]

Y’all still here to talk about the dark crystal or

[neima-hound]

So I started this AGES ago and worked on it in spurts for the past few months. So I feel like the art isn't as cohesive as it could be, but eh *shrugs* you win some you lose some. This idea was so funny in my head, I had to find SOME way to share it.

Anyway, I just can't get enough of Kylan and Naia's dynamic - ultimate BFF goals. But I feel a real BFF only supports you AFTER giving you a little crap. Heheh

Also mood rings? Anyone remember those? :D

[gelfyerself]

Kylan: Eloquent musician to stuttering mess in about half a second. 
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone!

[ladynoirelf]

Dark Crystal Tik-Tok challenge: My s/o doesn't love my anymore.

Deet to Rian:

Mitjan was preparing lunch when the holo-crystal rang. He pressed it up from its sheath with his elbow to accept the transmit.

“Hello”?

“F-Father”.

Mitja whipped his head at the sound of his daughter sniffling and on the brink of tears. Paternal instinct began to surge through him.

“What happened Deethra”? He asked, trying to keep the panic down in case it was nothing.

“R-Rian...He said”. Deet dramatically covered her mouth with a trembling fist “He said that he doesn't love me anymore”.

“I did NOT say that! Why are you lying to your father”?! Rian called off the screen. Mitjan couldn't tell if he sounded annoyed or was in jest.

“What did you say then”? Deet sniped at her right.

“I just said that I’m not buying you a fizzgig. You have a whole farm of slimy worms back home, those are your pets”.

“But they're not here, are they”?!

“I'm not having a fuzzball rolling over and shitting on my carpet”!

Deet rolled her, turning back to her father “So yeah this relationship might not last long”.

“Oh Deet”. Mitjan sighed, cutting off the call and going back to cooking lunch.

Rian to Deet:

Gurjin was shocked that Rian was calling him right now. Usually when he was on a date with Deet his phone would be on vibrate so he could focus on their activity.

Thinking the worst, Gurjin picked up after the first ring.

“What's wrong”?

“Deet doesn't love me anymore”.

“...huh”?

Gurjin could make out his friend’s monotone expression, imagining a look of deadpan on his face.

“My girlfriend of 2 years doesn't love me anymore”.

“I didn't say that”! Deet exclaimed, clearly sounded offended.

“What did you say then”? Rian challenged, leaving Gurjin to wonder if he should have even picked up the phone.

“I said I didn't want to go to the armory expo with you, I’ve been seven times I’ve had enough”.

“It's the same thing”!

“No, it is not! I'm tired of learning about the different wars and the glorification of bloodshed. Can't we go to the zoo or something ”?

“You liked it the first seven times”.

“I just started dating you, I was being nice”.

Gurjin hung up just as Rian let out a scandalous gasp. This sounded like a private matter.

Brea to Kylan:

“Darling, your sister is calling”.

Tavra turned off the treadmill, taking the towel Onica offered before her cell phone.

“Thanks, love” she grabbed the water bottle before answering the holo call “Hello”?

“T-Tavra”.

Said sister was greeted at the sight of her sister dramatically crying with glossy amber eyes.

“What's wrong this time”? Tavra chuckled, recognizing the famous crocodile tears her sister is known for in their household.

“T-T-Tavra” Blubbered Brea “Kylan told me...he doesn't love me anymore”.

A tanned hand gently landed on Brea’s head, giving her assuring head rubs. Tavra immediately recognized the affectionate gesture to come from Kylan.

“Brea, I just said I wouldn't marry you today”.

“It's the same thing”! Brea cried, burrowing her face into the couch arm.

“We’re still in university and I don't have enough money to get you a ring or-”.

“WELL GET ONE THEN! PLEASE”! Tavra winced at her sister’s harsh wailing through the speaker.

“I said soon...maybe”.

“Well it seems that two have that figured out. I'm gonna go mack on my girlfriend now, see ya”.

“TAVRA WAIT!! CONVINCE YOUR FUTURE BROTHER TO-”.

Tavra quickly cut off her sister’s pleas, hurrying to find Onica.

Kylan to Brea:

Naia sipped a bit of her smoothie before answering her phone after the first ring. As she always did when Kylan called.

“Yo”.

“Hey”. sighed Kylan, he sounded dejected which caused Naia some concern.

“Are you...Okay”?

“Yes, I mean as okay as one can be when their significant other tells them they don't love you anymore”.

Naia bit her lip when she heard a soft groan from Brea.

“I did not say that”!

“Oh no? Clarify what you said then”?

“I just said, respectfully and kindly, I'm not watching ‘Jara-Jen’ with you for the 50th time this week’”.

“Oh wow, seriously Klan”. Quipped Naia with a smirk.

“Hey! It's a good series and with amazing plot and dialogue”!

“I know because we’ve seen it 50 times this week”.

“It's a good show, Naia can you support me here please”.

Naia sucked her teeth “SSory Ky, gonna have to go with Brea on this one”.

“Fine, You're dead to me for the next five minutes”. With a humph, the click of the end of the call signaled Kylan hanging up.

Naia looked at her phone in confusion.

“Why specifically five minutes”?

Mothria to Gurjin:

A little while later after Kylan’s little call, Naia was surprised to get a call from Mothria who was often too busy on this day.

She set her bola crafting down to answer.

“Hi Mothy”.

“Your brother no longer loves me”.

“What! That is a lie. Why the fuck you lying”.,

Oh Thra, again?

“Awww, is he being a jerk again”? Naia cooed.

“Yeah he is”.

“All I said was I'm not going to ditch my friends at the movies so you can go to couples yoga”.

“I'm hearing ‘let's break up, I no longer love you Mothria”.

“For the love of Agura”.

“Who misses out on an opportunity to see their girlfriend in tight yoga pants”. Naia bit back a mocking giggle.

“A gelfling who wants to see guts and gore”.

“... Gurjin I feel I should apologize to you”.

“Why”?

“For taking most of your brain cells while we were in the womb together”.

Naia cackled as she hung up and tossed her phone next to her, returning to her crafting with a mischievous smile.

Gurjin to Mothria:

Rian groaned as he was rudely interrupted from his nap by the blaring of his phone.

His hand stumbled as he tried to find it on the coffee table, unintentionally knocking some of the knickknacks off.

“Hey” he responded with a groggy voice, arm over his eyes.

“Rian, my friend, comfort me in my time of need”. Gurjin’s begging didn't even stir the man from his half-sleep.

“What do you want”?

“Mothria, my beloved lovemoth of four years, has told me that she doesn't love me anymore”.

“That is not what you said you dinkleberry”!

Rian pulled the phone away from ear at Mothria’s booming voice.

“Well what did you say?! Explain yourself woman”!

“I said you can't grope my butt when we shop. We’ll get banned”.

“Don't worry about that we can ask my mom to lift the ban if we do”.

“How would we explain that? ‘Hey Maudra Laesid, your son likes to sexually grope me while we're shopping and that leads to us being banned. Could you lift it please so we can continue to do so without consequences”?

“...I probably would word it differently, but yeah something like that”.

“Oh my-”.

Rian cut the line off, leaving the sogling couple to their dispute and allowing him to return back to his nap.

[myfanartblogplusshippingtrash]

Because I can’t help myself...

Sneak peek! of some of the Dark Crystal Fan Art I’m currently working on 

Whats Almost Done! (most are not related but some are)

Halfway there...

Not even close (Still in the sketch zone)

And a Stonegrot (Rian x Deet) Comic in developement! (actually I got a lot of other comics in progress too)

It’s gonna be a while before they see daylight. Seriously the Gelflings have taken over my life

[sweetiepie08]

All I Ask of You (Chapter 5)

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance fic

Deet x Rian

She walked into his life when all seemed lost. He accepted her when the other surface dwellers didn’t. She was gentle. He was brave. Their first impressions dwelt in their minds and their feelings grew as their journey wore on. They supported each other, comforted each other, and gave each other strength. Together, they were a light in the darkness.

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 5. 

The plants around Rian withered and died.

Gone. She was gone. Not gone in the way Mira or his father were gone, but still lost to him.

He tried to follow her, but bramble and thorns stopped him at every turn. He would never make it through the forest, not like this. He needed to go back and resupply if he wanted even a chance of finding her.

He turned and trudged back to Stone-in-the-Wood. The jubilant sounds of celebrating gelfling only put a lump in his throat and a weight on his heart.

Though they won, the battle only brought him horror. Dueling the General and plunging his sword into flesh, the reemergence of the Hunter and nearly getting his head torn off, Deet taking the full power of the Emperor’s magic.. Terror ripped through him when he saw that beam hit her. She screamed out in shock, in pain, in fear, and he was once again helpless to stop it. Once again, he could do nothing but watch as someone he loved died.

But she did not die. She struck back, taking out one of the Skeksis, proving the Lords were mortal. And if they were mortal, they could be defeated.

After the Skeksis retreated, he was concerned only with ensuring his friends were unharmed. He hugged Gurjin, saw Brea embracing her sister, then watched Deet wonder off into the woods.

When he made it back to the village, he was acutely aware of the eyes on him. Strangers looked at him like he was some sort of hero, but he didn’t feel like one. While everyone around him was filled with elation, he felt lost in a haze.

“See, there he is,” Gurjin cried, bringing Rian back to the surface.

He looked up to see his friend and Mother Aughra resting on the steps of the Maudra’s Home Hearth and his feet carried him to them.

“What’d I tell you?” Gurjin went on. “Probably snuck off for a snog.”

“But Deet’s not with him,” Kylan whispered back.

“Rian?” Brea stood up to greet him. “Where’s Deet? When we couldn’t find you two after the battle, we thought you were together.”

“Deet…” he muttered, watching their faces slowly melt into dread. “Deet is…” He choked on his words and his friends exchanged fearful glances.

“Deet?” a new voice behind him spoke. He turned to find himself faced with Deet’s father. “Has something happened to my daughter?” Every fear imaginable flash through this father’s eyes.

“Deet is alive,” Rian stumbled out, unable to keep this poor gelfling in suspense any longer. “It’s the Darkening, I think. Her eyes were purple and I could see veins in her arms.”

A grave look passed on Aughra’s face. “Maudra Argot tells me the sanctuary tree gifted her with its powers,” she said, standing up and walking over to them. “If that is true, she may have taken its ability to absorb the Darkening without being completely destroyed.”

Hope grew in his heart. “So there’s a chance? We can save her?”

“As long as she still lives, there’s always a chance, but I haven’t a clue how to reverse it.”

Rian’s eyes turned back to the forest. The spot Deet disappeared through drew him to it like a magnet. He needed to find her. He simply needed to. “I’m going after her,” he declared. “Someone needs to bring her back. If the Skeksis get to her first…” That was a chilling thought. They saw how much power she wielded and, whether they wanted to take her out or harness it for themselves, that made her a target. It wouldn’t be the first time they made a gelfling their slave.

“But how will you find her?” Kylan asked.

“Her power’s leaving a trail,” Rian explained, recalling the path of dead plants that lay in her wake. “I should be able to catch up.”

“But the animals that were possessed by the darkening became aggressive,” Brea argued. “You saw what she can do. What if-”

“She wouldn’t hurt me!” Rian snapped. “She wouldn’t hurt any of us. She…” He looked around at his friends’ worried faces, all seeming to ask how he was so sure. But how could they forget? This was Deet they were talking about, kind, brave, gentle Deet. He couldn’t imagine a force in Thra that would compel her to harm an innocent creature, let alone one of her friends. “I just know she would never do such a thing.” And if they were in my place last night, they’d be sure too.

They knew nothing of the word they shared the previous night. He didn’t feel right telling them. It felt too intimate. They were words he might have kept secret even from her if he thought she wouldn’t reciprocate. But the drink and the dread of the coming battle possessed him and he asked her to pretend to love him, just to ease his grief and loneliness from a moment. It was a greater gift than he could imagine when she promised her love was real.

“Rian…” Mother Auhgra took him by the shoulder. “The road diverges here. If you choose the path that leads to Deet, take caution. It is true she is still there. Her light has not gone out. But that’s not all she is anymore.”

“Thank you, Mother Auhgra. I will head your advice. But as long as there is still a spark of Deet left in the world, I won’t lose hope.”

Mother Auhgra nodded and gave him a half-smile. There was a look of thoughtfulness on her face and her third seemed to see beyond the path before him. He knew from legend Mother Auhgra could all the paths gelfling could take and where they might lead. If this was true, and she didn’t try to stop him, which he took as a good sign.

“And you, sir,” he said, turning to Deet’s father. “I promise you, and your husband too, that I will return your daughter safely to you.

“Thank you,” her father said, tears forming in his eyes. “I can tell you’ve been a good friend to her. I trust you will do everything you can.”

Deet’s father then pulled Rian into an embrace. He couldn’t help but feel some sorrow in his heart. He’d hugged his own father for the last time the night he died. Rian already had his last chance, but Deet hadn’t, not yet, not for a long time. She would see her family again. He’d make sure of it.

The door to the Home Hearth opened and Seladon stepped out. “She’s ready,” she said, a grim look on her face. “You may tell the Stonewoods they can come in now if the wish to pay their respects.”

“Respects?” Rian asked, breaking away from the hug. “Respects to who? What’s going on?”

His friends all exchanged worried glances before Brea stepped forward to speak. “I’m afraid we have some grave news as well.”

[-]

Rian looked down at his Maudra lying motionless on a table in her throne room. Around him stood the remainder of the Stonewood warriors. Seladon let the Stonewoods in first to pay their respects before the other glelfing.

The mood hung like a shadow over their heads. Maudra Fara had been their leader since the end of the Arathim Wars. She took the crown before she even came of age. She was strong-willed, just, and brave. More than that, she loved her clan above all else. Sadly, while she led a great many into battle, she was left with a much smaller number of mourners.

To Rian, though, she held a special place in his heart. She was a good friend of his father and he had the privilege of knowing her as more than their clan’s leader. He got to peak behind the Maudra’s stern demeaner and saw Fara’s softer side. He watched her tease his father and have a laugh at the great warrior’s expense, one of the very few who could. When she visited the castle, she always made time to check in on him and ask how he was. Her love for her people showed in the time she gave to each one of them, even a childling growing up away from his clan.

Truly, they would never see another like her again.

Which left one question hanging over them all. “Had she chosen an heir?” Rian asked, looking down at his Maudra’s quiet face.

She died without children, and so, she would have chosen a successor to carry on if the worst should happen. Which it did.

The Stonewoods behind him were silent, save for some uncomfortable shuffling. He looked to Seladon, who shook her head. “We received no record of this in Ha’rar.”

“Where’s her lead advisor?” he asked, turning to the other Stonewoods.

“That would be Cohl,” one of the Stonewoods answered. “They evacuated with the other non-combatants.”

“And her guard Captain?”

The Stonewood shook his head. “One of the first drained, sir.”

His heart twisted. Of course. It made sense. Take out the clan’s leadership first, leave the maudra alive to keep the rest of the clan in line… Great Thra, he hated that he could think like them. “So who’s in charge here?”

They met his question with expectant stares. He looked them over. They were foot soldiers and a few lieutenants. They were used to taking orders or relaying decisions to their higher-ups. None were prepared for command. But the answer in their eyes was obvious.

After all, they answered his call. They followed his plan. They fought in his battle.

“It can’t be me, so who is it?!”

His outburst echoed off the walls. The Stonewoods shifted, exchanging glances. Their answer hadn’t changed, despite his protest, and he couldn’t blame them. No Maudra, not captain, and no advisors. Who else was there?

After some more non-committal shifting, Seladon spoke up. “Who is your fastest rider?”

One of the Stonewoods stepped forward. “I am, Maudra.” Finally, an answer.

“Go to the place where the non-combatants are hiding and bring them news of Maudra Fara’s death. The lead advisor should act as leader of the clan until a new Maudra is selected according to your clan’s customs.”

“More than one should go,” Rian added. “The Skeksis may have retreated for the day, but there’s no telling what they might have lurking in the forest.”

As the Stonewood warriors decided amongst themselves who should go, Rian turned to Seladon and tried to convey his thanks in his eyes. She nodded and smiled slightly in return.

Once a decision was made, the Stonewoods split into two groups, those who would escort the non-combatants back to Stone-in-the-wood, and those who would prepare Maudra Fara’s funeral ceremony. They left to carry out their duties, leaving Rian and Seladon alone in the throne room.

“She shouldn’t be buried until the rest of the clan returns,” Rian said, turning back to Maudra Fara. “She’ll want to say goodbye to all of her children.”

“Of course.” Seladon said, approaching Fara’s body. “She was a titan. A fighter to the end.”

“Yes…” Rian couldn’t stop staring at her still face.

“We must fight in her place,” she continued, placing a hand on his shoulder, “now that Thra has called her home.”

“Killed by the Skeksis, you mean,” he seethed. That little flare of anger was the first emotion to penetrate the numbness he felt since stepping in the room. He felt strangely sober, despite the circumstances. His Maudra lay dead before him and his eyes were shockingly dry. Perhaps he simply ran out of tears to shed. But a tiny flame of fury flickered in his heart like a candle in a fog. It could weaken and die or grown strong enough to burn down the whole world. Only time would tell which.

“Can I ask, why can’t you lead until a new Maudra is selected?” Seladon said. “You led the battle, after all. Your clan seems to respect you.”

Today they do. He shook his head to cast the thought away. “You weren’t out there when I explained.” He went on to tell her about Deet’s disappearance. “I made a promise that I would find her and bring her back safely. I can’t break that promise.”

Seladon listened quietly, no judgement on her face. When he finished, she nodded. “I understand. I’ll see to it that Fara is properly returned to Thra and a new Maudra is crowned.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help,” he said, wishing there were words strong enough to convey his gratitude. She truly had no idea how much it helped him to know he was leaving Fara in capable hands. “I should say my goodbyes now. I won’t be able to stay for the ceremony.”

“I’ll leave you alone, then.” Her hand brushed his back one more time. “Take all the time you need.”

Seladon walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. The sound echoed off the walls. He looked down at Fara again. She still looked proud and strong, despite everything. He waited for words to come to him, but there were none. Strange how, now that he had time to say goodbye, he couldn’t think of what to say.

Say what’s in your heart, a sweet, familiar voice reminded him. A half smile tugged at his lips. He opened his mouth and started talking.

[-]

That night, Rian returned to his grandmother’s house to prepare supplies for his journey. He took a bow and quiver full of arrows from the armory, as well as an extra sword, just in case. While he knew the woods well enough to survive on the plants that grew there, he also took some warrior’s marching bread and an extra water skin.

As he was running a whetstone across one of the swords, there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” Rian called, expecting one of his friends. Instead, Deet’s father entered the room.

“Sir,” Rian said, setting his sword aside and jumping to attention. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“I was just hoping to talk to you,” the older gelfling said, joining Rian in the living room.

“Of course, sir.”

“Lath’N” Deet’s father answered. “You can call me Lath’N. There’s no need to be so formal.”

“Alright, Lath’N,” Rian said, inviting him to sit down. “What can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to thank you for looking after my daughter,” he said sitting beside Rian on the sofa. “I’m glad she found such a good friend on the surface.”

“It’s Deet who’s been a great friend,” Rian said, feeling a warmth in his cheeks. “I’m only doing what she would have done for me.”

“That is good to hear,” Lath’N said, looking over the supplies on the table. “I see you’re preparing for your journey.”

“Yes, I plan to leave as soon as the first brother rises. Don’t’ worry, I’m a good tracker and I know these woods well. I won’t lose her.”

“I have faith in you.” The older gelfling’s eyes lingered on Rian’s face. “Forgive more saying this, but you look tired.”

“Well, I did fight in a battle today. And trained with some the fighters this morning… almost died a time or two…” he trailed off. So much had happened, it felt like weeks had passed. It was hard to believe that, just this morning, he woke up with Deet in his arms.

“And that was all just today,” Lath’N said, summing up Rian’s thoughts. “But I didn’t mean like that. You look a different kind of tired. It’s not fair, really. You’re too young to look this tired.”

“A lot’s happened in the last…” He stopped as he tried to count the days in his head. How long had it been? Everything was starting to blur together.

Lath’N reached to the table and picked up the sword Rian was sharpening. From the way he held it, Rian could tell it wasn’t his first time holding a blade. “Fine sword you’ve got here. What kind of steel is it?”

“I don’t really know. I lost my sword the first time I fought the Hunter. This is a spare Naia and Gurjin brought me from the castle… Or, is this the one I took from the Circle of the Suns? Or the armory? Been through a lot of swords lately. Do you know about smithing?”

“Just tangential stuff you pick up through training.”

“Training?” Rian asked. “But, Deet told me her fathers were nurloc farmers.”

“I am now,” Lath’N laughed. “But in my younger years, I was a castle guard.”

“You? Really?” Rian let out a small laugh as well. “Forgive me but, there have only been about a dozen Grotton guards in history.”

“That’s true.” Lath’N smiled and extended his hand. “Meet number twelve.”

“It is an honor, sir.” Rian shook his hand vigorously. “You must outrank me.”

“I doubt it. I left when I was still young.”

“Oh, may I ask why?”

“Well, when I joined, I was young, with dreams of adventure. It turned out to be quite different from what I expected.”

Rian nodded. “It might sound strange coming from me, but the castle could be very dull.” He’d heard similar things from guards who’d come and gone. He’d tell them, ‘if you want adventure, you should join the Sifa.’ Most coming in didn’t realize how boring the castle was. Gurjin, who joined because ‘they say nothing ever goes wrong at the castle’, was the only one who had a different answer.

Lath’N laughed. “Yes, but that’s not what I meant. There were things I liked about it, like meeting gelfling from all the different clans. But everyone was so on-edge all the time, and always so formal. It was very different from Grot. We’re a small clan, so it’s more like a big family. We’re more laid-back and friendly.”

“That sound’s nice,” Rian mused. Although ‘laid-back and friendly’ hardly described his family…

No that wasn’t entirely true. His grandmother, for example, was always kind and comforting. And she told him funny stories from when his father was a kid, which was a plus. Then there were the times when he was young and his mother was still alive, and they all lived in a little house on the edge of the village. He remembered how his parents would smile and laugh together. How his mother would teach him old gelfling songs. How he’d watch his father practicing drills in the yard and how his father would invite him over to try the moves. How sometimes, on a quiet night, his mother would read him a story, usually and old gelfling folktale, and he’d look up to see him father smiling at them, just content to watch them exist.

It would be nice to have that again, but, it seemed like an impossible dream.

“The thing I think I disliked the most,” Lath’N continued, “was that, when you were out on escort duty, you had to hold yourself above the other gelfling, like you weren’t just like one of them.”

“I know what you mean,” Rian said. Lath’N general assessment was right. Life as a guard was not only dull, but tense. You weren’t a gelfling when you were on duty, but the Skeksis’ hands. You were meant to do their bidding without question. But they made it seem like it was a privilege to be serving them, like you were a step above everyone else. And that’s exactly how they’ve been fooling us for a thousand trine.

“I grew up in the castle,” Rian went on. “There wasn’t a lot to do as a childling. I was always getting into trouble. But you’re right. I was always on edge. I always had to be out of the Skeksis’ way. If I was too much of a bother, they might have had me sent from the castle, away from my father.”

Lath’N’s face looked grave. “That’s a terrible burden for a child to bare.”

Rian almost didn’t know what to say. Lath’N’s sad, disappointed eyes bored into him. He wasn’t disappointed in Rian, but in the circumstances of Rian’s childhood. No child should be forced to grow up as lonely as you did, they seemed to say.

Rian’s heart tightened and he forced out a laugh. “It wasn’t all bad. The guards mostly treated me like a little brother or cousin. And, when I got old enough, my father gave me sword fighting lessons every morning. Plus, I got to spend my summers in Stone-in-the-Wood. It was a lot like how you described Grot. The villagers were usually friendly and welcoming. At least, I had other children to play with.”

“You know, you light up when you talk about Stone-in-the-Wood.”

A soft, genuine smile came to his face. “I’ve made a lot of fond memories here.” Even just last night, he thoughts as he remembered the feeling of Deet’s lips of his.

Lath’N gave him a curious look. “And yet, when you came of age, you stayed at the castle as a guard.”

“Of course.” The comment surprised him. No one ever questioned his decision to join the guard, not even Rian himself. It was what he was always supposed to do, what was expected from him. “My father was the captain for most of my life. I was to follow in his footsteps.”

“Seems to me you have. He was a great hero, was he not? And now, so are you.”

“That…hadn’t occurred to me…” It was true, come to think of it. Victory crumbled to ashes so quickly, he hadn’t had time to process what happened. But, all those gelfling who came up to him and congratulated him, they must think so. Although, he was not the one who dealt the final blow. “Deet’s the real hero. She’s the one who sent the Skeksis running. Even before that, I never would have made it this far without her.”

“Deet is something special,” Lath’N said with a wistful smile on his face.

“Yes,” Rian agreed, a smile growing on his face as well. “Very special.”

“As are you,” Lath’N said, putting his hand on Rian’s shoulder. “Not everyone could go through all you have and come out the other side still standing, let alone continuing to fight.”

“I must.” Once again, Lath’N surprised him. Of course he was still fighting. What else was there to do? “We’re at war now and it’s a war I started, so I better finish it.”

“You can’t blame yourself for this.”

“It’s true through. I’m the one-”

“Are you the one responsible for a thousand trine of Skeksis rule?” Lath’N asked in a surprisingly firm voice. “This war was a long time coming and the fight is bigger than any one gelfling. I believe there’s an old Stonewood saying. ‘There are times when the blade is necessary.’”

“Yes, and this is one of those times. But there’s more to that saying. ‘The hand that wields the blade cannot help the fallen to their feet.’”

“So, you put your blade side when the fighting is done.”

“That’s right,” Rian sighed, looking at the sword on the table. “What are you getting at?”

Lath’N looked at him with his gentle eyes. “I only wonder if this is the life you would have chosen for yourself, if you had the choice.”

Words lodged in his throat. What would he be if none of this had happened? If he was never a guard? If the Skeksis never came to Thra? His whole life was so tied up with the guard and Skeksis and now the rebellion, it was hard to imagine anything else. His life would be completely different. Thra would be completely different. But, was there any point in wondering? The war had begun. The Skeksis needed to be dislodged if the gelfling were ever to be free. “It hardly matters now.” He may not get to choose but, if they won, future generations might.

“Still, it’s something to consider,” Lath’N said, picking up the sword to inspect it again. “When you set your blade aside, Rian, what will you do?” He put the sword back on the table. He then said his goodbyes, wished Rian best of luck, and left him alone.

Rian went back to preparing for his journey, but his eyes kept lingering on his sword and Lath’N’s question stuck in his mind. Should they win, should the Skeksis be defeated for good, should the gelfling finally have peace, what would he do? Could he set his sword aside? Could he find something else to do with his life, something he truly wanted?

They needed to win first. The war had to be fought. They were being hunted and killed. The Skeksis would wipe out all gelfling if they could. They needed to save Thra, as well as all gelfling-kind.

But, after that, if they won, Rian may, finally, have a choice.

[-]

The first brother had just cracked the horizon when Rian began his journey. Pure exhaustion was the only thing that allowed him to sleep that night. His mind was too full of dread to give him pleasant dreams, but, luckily, there were no nightmares either. Just a night of blessed, dead-to-the-world slumber. It was the best he could hope for, but it didn’t compare to the night before, holding Deet close and warm, his face nestled in her soft hair… It was only one night but the bed still felt empty and cold without her.

He stepped outside. A thin layer of fog hung in the chilly early-morning air. A few remnants of battle lay scattered on the ground. The streets were empty, but not like they were when he and Deet first arrived. He could walk through the village, knowing the gelfling were sleeping safely in their beds, or at least under the roofs offered to them. He was leaving this place full of life, but only for now. I’ll be back, he promised himself. And I’ll be back with Deet.

As he made his way to the edge of town, a voice broke through the morning silence. “Thought you could give us the slip, eh?”

Rian’s heart lifted at the sound. He turned to see his friends gathered behind him. “What are you all doing up so early?” He hurried back to them with a smile on his face. “You’re not planning on coming with me, are you?”

He was of two minds about that. On the one hand, he appreciated the support and the company. Plus, traveling in a group would be safer, should they run into any trouble. But, he needed to travel light and move quick if he wanted to catch up to Deet. Besides, the other gelfling would need leadership if they were to defeat the Skeksis for good.

“No,” Seladon clarified. “There’s too much to do while the Skeksis still reign.”

“And someone needs to make sure the clans are still standing when you get back,” Naia added.

He nodded. Of course, Deet was only one mission in this great game. They each had their own paths to follow. He could only hope they’d all lead back together again.

“We wanted to see you off,” Kylan said. “And wish you good fortune on your journey.”

Gurjin smiled. “And you didn’t really think you could leave without saying goodbye, did you?”

“Thank you, all of you,” Rian said, his heart full. “I know we all have our parts to play. I wish you all good fortune as well and that, someday, we will all meet again in happier times.”

“I wanted to give you this.” Brea stepped forward and handed him a little leather-bound book.

“Your journal? Are you sure?”

“I’ve written a lot about Thra’s history in there. The Skeksis have tried to stamp out much of it, but I want to restore it to all gelfling. Knowledge can be a powerful tool against a cunning foe. I hope it will help you on your journey.”

“Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.”

“I know you will.” Tears welled up in Brea’s eyes and she pulled Rian into a hug. “Bring her back.”

“I will,” he vowed, his resolve hardening even more.

“You’d better,” Gurjin said, his smirk doing a poor job of hiding his fears. Rian transferred from Brea’s arms to Gurjin’s. “Watching you make a fool of yourself over a gelfling you fancy is one of life’s greatest joys.”

Rian let out a breathy laugh. “There’ll be plenty of time for that.” He’d wonder how Grujin knew, but they’d been best friends long enough to become familiar with each other’s subtleties. He was sure Gurjin could read him as easily as he could read Gurjin.

His best friend released him and Naia stepped up next. “Deet’s a sweet girl,” Naia said, hugging him. “If you let anything happen to her, I’ll have your head.”

“I’d deserve it,” Rian answered.

When Naia was finished, Kylan took his turn to embrace Rian. “I know you’ll do everything you can to keep her safe but remember to keep yourself safe as well.”

“I’ll try.”

He stepped away from Kylan and found himself faced with Seladon. She was their All Maudra now, but in that moment, she looked shy and nervous. He could understand why. Most of them barely knew her. She was summoned to the Crystal with them, but she refused its first call. Their little band of friends had been through so much together. Perhaps she felt like an outsider.

She stepped forward but made no move to embrace him like the others did. “When you find Deet, tell her…” she cast her eyes downward, “tell her I’m sorry for treating her so poorly when we first met.”

“You’ll be able to tell her yourself.” He strode forward and embraced her. “I swear it.” Whatever mistakes she made in the past, she fought alongside them in their battle again the Skeksis. She was his sister in arms now. If they were to ever win the war, they needed to stay together.

The hug ended and he stepped back to see the sad smiles on their faces. He was grateful for them all. Their seeing him off was not only a testament to when great friends they were, but to how much they all loved Deet. “Thank you, all of you. When we next meet, I’ll bring happier news. I promise.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Gurjin smirked. “Go on, now. Go be a hero.”

Rian took one more look at his friends, then turned to head out of town. They called out their final farewells to him. Each one filled his heart with hope as he disappeared into the Endless Forrest.

[dhachaigh]

Victory (1344 words)

AKA Gurjin is obligatory DD and Kylan canNOT hold his wine. (Here’s the song)

Stone-in-the-Wood was awash in light and sound. Night had fallen in the wake of the gelfling’s victory, and along with it came the lighting of lanterns, the opening of kegs, and the cacophony only created by an army united by triumph. Everything had been pushed out of the streets surrounding the Crucible to make way for the merrymaking. Stripped of armor, people of every clan cheered, and danced, and drank their fill. Even overhead, lasses weaved around each other in a skybound dance - and subsequently spilled ale upon those standing below.

Some splashed onto Gurjin’s head as he squeezed through the crowded fareway, holding three mugs above the, thankfully, shorter gelfling around him. Once he was clear of the worst of it, he shook himself like a fizzgig fresh from a bath. It may have been a bigger party than he was used to, but even that was familiar. Naia was waiting for him on the other side, leaned against a tree with a poorly hidden snicker-fit at her brother’s circumstance.

“I told you to fetch a drink, not bathe in it.” She snarked, raising her voice over the unrelenting noise. “Though the smell might be an improvement.”

“Ha ha.” He replied dryly and pushed the drinks into her hands so he could properly brush the ale off his shirt. “Where’s Rian? One of those is for him.”

His twin jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, nearly spilling on herself. “Hiding. He could use another drink. I don’t think I’ve heard a word from him all night.”

“He’s had a rough day.” Gurjin responded simply as he took two of the drinks back. Naia didn’t have a quip for that, just responded with a shrug and a long sip. She turned to watch the merrymaking. One thing he could always appreciate about Naia was her ability to mind her own business.

There were less people to shove through on the sidestreet, and Rian was easy to spot. He was sitting in the crook of a tree’s roots, gaze far away. Others had apparently noticed the slump in his shoulders, as there were already several empty mugs stacked on the ground next to the Stonewood by the time Gurjin approached. The pink in his cheeks was hard to miss.

“Got someone else serving you drinks now? Thought that was my job.” Gurjin said lightly and handed it over to his friend.

“Brea.” Rian said, taking the drink absentmindedly.

“Must be pretty bad if Brea thinks you ought to be drunk.”

A small, closed-lipped smile crept onto his face. “Guess so.”

The air sat silent between them, and Rian’s eyes wandered back to the path into the woods. The Drenchen followed his gaze. He’d only met Deet briefly, but Gurjin’s heart ached for her too. Even the short camaraderie of a shared mission had planted a seed of care between them all - maybe it was a soldier’s sentiment, but it felt wrong to be missing someone. He was sure Rian carried her absence heavier in his heart after what happened with Mira.

Taking a grounding breath in through his nose, Gurjin put a smile onto his face and clapped Rian on the shoulder. “We’ll find her. And, you know she won’t end up in anything’s belly - you saw the way she handled those Skesksis.”

His friend stayed quiet, so the Drenchen took his leave. The song had changed while he was talking, a twangy, upbeat ballad. Swallowing a mouthful of his previously untouched drink, he wandered back to Naia. Her eyes were locked on the music-makers, a funny smile pulling at her lips. 

“What?” He asked as he wiped the ale from his mouth.

She simply pointed. “Kylan’s drunk.”

He nearly choked - she was right. Kylan was standing atop a wagon flipped on its side alongside a ragtag group of Sifan singers, there even seemed to be a Vapran playing a flute vigorously. The Spriton’s heel was up on the wheel, strumming away at some stringed instrument that Gurjin thought was made out of a couple of sticks and braided hair. Kylan’s face was bright pink and he sang loudly along with the Sifan’s shanty. It was admittedly impressive that he was able to strum so well considering the significant slur in his voice.

“Woo, Kylan!” Naia yelled over the crowd, lifting her drink over her head. 

He spotted them and nearly toppled off the wagon with the force of his wave. The ginger-haired Sifan next to him managed to keep him straight, and the two leaned heavily against each other as they continued playing away.

“Hold that.” Gurjin sighed, pushing his unfinished drink toward Naia. “I should make sure he doesn’t fall off that thing.”

“I’m going to drink your ale while you play childling-sitter!” Naia called after him as he began making his way through the throng of dancing gelfling. 

“Bonnie lassie will you gang with me,

Bonnie lass will ye lie near me?

I’ll get all your ribbons reel

In the morning ‘ere I’ll leave ye”

It took several minutes, but he eventually found himself close to the wagon. Brea was already there, looking anxious and holding multiple cups. “Oh, Gurjin,” she sighed in relief when she saw him, scooting close. “I’ve been trying to get him to drink water all night.” It was almost impossible to hear her over Kylan and the Sifans’ crowing.

“She takes the trooper by the hand

And leads him to her chamber

She’s given him some wine to drink

And his love it flared like tinder”

Gurjin had to cup his hands around his mouth and shout Kylan’s name to get the Spriton to look their way. He tried gesturing for Kylan to get down, but the Song-teller dizzily waved instead, and hiccuped a “Hi, Gurjin!” Then he winked, and went back to the chorus.

“He just winked at you. He might have ale-poisoning.”

The Drenchen sighed, he really was a childling-sitter. “Wait here, Brea.” He rolled his sleeves up to the elbow and pushed his way up to the wagon, using his full Drenchen stature. “Come on, Kylan.” 

With a delighted gasp, Kylan pushed his flimsy instrument into the ginger-haired Sifan’s hands. “Gurjin! Hi!” 

“Hi, Kylan. Let’s have fun on the ground.”

“Hi, Gurjin!” He slurred again, and squatted on the edge of the wagon to wave him over with another wink. “C’mere, c’mere.” Gurjin did so, getting close enough for the Spriton to grab him by the shoulders. “Yer so tall.” He interrupted the Drenchen’s demands. At this angle, Kylan was indeed only about a head above Gurjin. “So tall. Big, strong Gurjin.” He mused, hands patting their way up to his sober companion’s face.

“Here, I’ll help you down-” Before he could finish his offer, the Spriton’s hands were tugging his face forward and smashing their mouths together.

Gurjin had never experienced his brain melting and pouring out of his ears, but Kylan kissing him with the taste of wine on his breath was probably the closest he’d ever come to it. He immediately heard Brea exclaim, “oh!” and Naia’s cackling laughter over the music, but he was stuck there like his boots were made of stone. It was at least several seconds before Kylan broke away to drunkenly greet Brea.

The Vapran coaxed Kylan down while Gurjin stood in shock. He’d always thought the bard was sweet, his company was enjoyable. Maybe he was even kind of cute, but in a way that the Drenchen wasn’t going to admit to himself yet. And, sure, maybe Gurjin thought about Kylan that way, he hadn’t expected to be kissed. It was so sudden - if he knew Kylan was going to kiss him, he could’ve at least made it romantic. Or, completely not romantic, you know, in the way one would set the mood to passionately kiss a friend in a totally friendly way.

“Gurjin.” Brea’s hand on his shoulder broke him out of the dizzying stream of thought. She smiled at him. “Don’t worry, he’ll probably forget by morning.”

Why was he disappointed by that?

[dragonladdie]

Brea, Tavra, and Seladon all sneaking out to see their Lesbian Partners™ and they run into each other

[oz-the-sorcerer]

Royalmelody Social Media AU

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 17.5 | Part 18

Part 19: [the finale] you will be fine 🌟🎶

...later

...