#reasons I love aria

[ariapmdeol]

hello! can you expand on what you mean by "pro cannibalism"? I know it seems obvious but I struggle sometimes, so I wanna make sure I understand what you mean

it's because i love cannibalism 🫶 it's my birthday i think i should get a little human flesh as a treat

more seriously: it's a joke referencing a previous anon who called me a 'pro cannibalism individual'. I thought it was funny so i embraced the title SADKJLJDLASK

the more detailed context is I like a lot of media with cannibalism in it, and make a lot of jokes about it! i am The Cannibalism Mutual ^_^

I think it's peak romance 💖 Peak symbolism 💖 incredibly funny 💖 a delightful little snack 💖 fellas is it gay as a man to eat another man (yes) 💖 i love eating human flesh 💖 this is yaoiyuri. to me 💖

[tiny-cloud-of-flowers]

Okay. As intended: the Clio rambles. This is probably going to be very long and disjointed, but hopefully that is tolerable.

To try and sum them up:

Clio will now have pointed ears once she becomes a Spirit, and I've figured out a way to justify this in the context of what those mean in this series.

I'm fairly confident that I now know when Clio becomes a Spirit, and the circumstances surrounding her doing so. The only thing I'm still slightly missing is how she would actually know how to do it, but the game doesn't exactly explain that when it happens later on to another character, so..

Her story now follows that of the canon KHUX player quite closely, including the bluff at the final battle. A main deviation is that she would have still been hesitant, but ultimately did accept the invitation to the Dandelions, so she comes back with Ephemer and Skuld to gather survivors instead of being one.

The one thing I still don't know at all is how things end - whether I leave Clio in KHUX, or bring her forwards, and if so how and how far.

Okay, now for the actual rambles. Suggestions/comments/criticism/etc. is very much encouraged, because right now I do feel like I'm talking to the wall a bit.

What first started things off, I think, was me trying to justify porting the pointed ears that Clio has in FFXIV back to her original KHUX iteration, because they look cute on her. Both games have characters with these ears, but they mean different things in each one. In FFXIV they're just a natural trait of any Elezen - or Lalafell, but Clio's specifically are because she's half-Elezen there. Conversely, in Kingdom Hearts, they're quite specifically gained from exposure to darkness (or in most characters' cases from being possessed by Xehanort - it's just that he himself is implied to have gained them from darkness exposure in the first place, since he doesn't have pointed ears or golden eyes yet in Dark Road).

Now, Clio is very much not someone who feels the need to use darkness - she has strong light in her heart, and wields it valiantly. So, it wouldn't make very much sense or be very in-character for her to start falling to darkness and gain them as a result of the effect it has on her heart and body. However, as part of the story of my selfship, Clio becomes Aria's Chirithy Spirit (since she was never given one like she should have been, and Clio becoming hers allows her to survive the story). Chirithies are known to be tied to their individual Keyblade wielders, in that if the wielder dies or falls to darkness then so does the Chirithy - so, since Aria is already technically fallen to darkness by virtue of being a Heartless, it makes sense that Clio would also appear to be affected by that darkness (though I don't think she herself would actually become corrupted by it, necessarily - it just looks like she might be). Therefore, I can use that as a reason why Clio has pointed ears, implying darkness exposure, but is still very much a Keyblade wielder of light!

That was the first thing, which then led into the even more rambly part of more general story logistics - specifically, the idea of Clio taking the place of the player in KHUX, but also things like how when and why Clio becomes Aria's Spirit, and what her doing so would mean for her own Chirithy.

To the first part (Clio taking the role of the player): it would be a nice way of giving her more plot importance, as well as making the game’s story itself more important to my selfship’s story. Clio is absolutely the sort of person to make friends with lots of people regardless of their Unions, after all, and it can be fun thinking about how she might interact with the main cast. It also makes the final battle in particular much more fitting: Clio can pull off the trick of being possessed by a true Darkness much more convincingly given that she actually has a supply of darkness to safely draw from - Aria’s.

However, some details would have to be taken into account; firstly, the fact that the player canonically refuses to become a Dandelion, whereas Clio definitely is, to the point that her being one is how Aria is able to reunite with her and make it back to Daybreak Town, as I’ve previously written. However, what I could do in theory is say that, because the two things I wrote as follow-ups to that first piece were both in the Darkling AU, then Clio escaping the war with the Dandelions is also only the case in that AU, leaving the default version of events to line up better with the player’s story in canon where they refuse to join for the sake of those who were not chosen to become Dandelions (which for Clio would absolutely include people like Aria).

This can then in theory lead on to the other big thing I still need to work out, which is how/when/why Clio becomes Aria’s Chirithy/Spirit. For the when and the why.. if Clio is already friends with Skuld and Ephemer like the player is by the time the Keyblade War breaks out, then maybe she can go with them to try and rescue people from the battlefield once it’s all over.. and come across Aria there, as she had been bearing witness to the war but became injured after trying to step in to defend her Nobody counterpart. In the Darkling AU, Aria simply escapes into the realm of darkness at this stage, allowing her injuries to heal and being determined to find her way back to Clio (though being in that realm for too long is what then turns her more into a Darkling). Here, though.. maybe she can be rescued and brought along to where the Dandelions escape to (like the player is in canon, ironically), but is too injured to wake in a world so filled with light, and so Clio decides to (and is somehow able to) dive into her dream - thus becoming a Spirit, in the same way that Riku does much later on? So, that potentially sorts out the Chirithy logistics (albeit I'm not quite sure what would happen to Clio's own Chirithy if she were to become the same type of entity herself).

The other way in which Clio’s story could differ from the canon player’s is at the aforementioned final battle. In the game, the player pretends to be possessed by a true Darkness in order to get Ephemer and Skuld to seal them and four of the true Darknesses away, which leaves the Union leaders with more lifeboats to escape the destruction of the data Daybreak Town. I’ve already said that Clio would be able to bluff this very effectively due to being connected to Aria (who, as a Heartless, is already an entity consumed by darkness), but.. in the game, when this happens, the player taunts the Darknesses before being attacked by them and falling in battle, letting their heart move on and be reborn. And I perhaps understandably don't want that to happen to Clio, unless I say that that's how Arete happens.

At the moment, I'm also not 100% sure what Aria is doing at this time. What currently feels like the most "keeping things consistent with how I had been thinking of them" idea is that Aria takes herself back off into the realm of darkness again to avoid the destruction of the data Daybreak Town, while Clio can then be tangled up with the finale plot alongside the Union leaders, like the canon player - but then when Clio tricks the true Darknesses, she's able to slip out of where she's sealed them thanks to Aria (somehow), so the two can escape via the realm of darkness and subsequently are able to survive together until.. well, maybe Missing Link? When Clio gets out of the darkness but is kept alive/essentially made immortal by Aria still being in there? But, it seems difficult to think that Clio would be able to escape in a way that true Darkness can't, especially if she's going into the realm of darkness to do so. Maybe we can fight them off together? But that's four of the true Darknesses against only two Keyblade wielders, one of which is already a Heartless (and therefore, entity of darkness).. which seems a bit too tricky

Alternatively, if I did stick to giving Clio the player's canon fate.. I'm wondering whether Aria would be able to salvage her heart somehow, preserving her until such a time as the pair can be together again in the light. There's an argument to be made that, as a Spirit and therefore technically a type of Dream Eater, maybe Clio can only appear in Aria's dreams - but Aria doesn't tend to dream in the first place, because I don't. I am still attached to the idea of her being alive and present, though - maybe even ending up on Destiny Islands, to the point of meeting the main/non-KHUX characters. There's still that one piece of writing I haven't finished yet about that. And I can technically do that with Player?? But it's still not clear how they ended up there, honestly..

I think my uncertainly mostly comes from a combination of the following: I don't want to kill Clio off for the sake of sticking to canon, because I don't want things to end with KHUX, but I don't think she would be able to persist in the realm of darkness like Aria does. Maybe I can pull a Nimda and canonically detour her into FFXIV, but I don't really like the sound of that for Clio specifically. So who knows?? I certainly don't!

I think this last part may have to wait until Missing Link is out, and we know how it ties to KHUX more concretely. The timing of how far apart each game is from the others is still up in the air, after all, and seeing how connected the two truly are might maybe help me figure out if I do indeed want to sacrifice self-indulgence (of keeping Clio alive and incorporating her into other games) for narrative satisfaction.

People who know KHUX: please critique. And anyone in general who has something to comment on about this: please also comment.

[aria0fgold]

Sorry I'm not your God (神様じゃなくてごめんね) Romaji Lyrics

Nee,

Kimi kara mite boku no kao wa

Nani iro ni mieteru no kana

Hontō wa kimi ga egaku yōna

Sunda iro nanka janainda

Monogatari no shujinkō mitaina

Seigi no hīrō no yōna

Kodo to kotoba o nazotta

Sono kekka ga ima no bokudatta dakenanda

Shinzō ni tenteki o sasu yōna utade

Asa o ikinobite wa

Yoru no omosa ni kubi o shimerare nagara

Iki mo tamerare yashinai

Nigiri tsudzuketeita shinzō mo

Dareka no bunda to shitteshimatta

Sono kuse dareka o sukuitakatta

Sore ga hontō no boku nanda

Aa,

Shōdoteki na aide sukuwaretakunai yo

Nante mie o hatte itteshimatta

Kakkoyokunakute gomen ne

Aa,

Sekai yori kimi o erabutte

Minna ni ichatta

Kono ude wa ni hon shikanai no ni sa

Kamisama janakute gomen ne

Aa,

Furimaita nasake ga

Kiba ni natte osōtekichatta

Kitto subete yuruseru to omotta

Tsuyokunakutte gomen ne

Aa,

Tsunaideta te o hanashite

Kimi o oite ichatta

Kimi o mamoru tame no hazudattanda

Kamisama janakute gomen ne

Kitto boku wa yasashii hito

Demo kimi wa boku yori yasashii hito

Yasashii hito bakari kizutsuiteiku

Kono dōshiyō mo nai sekai de sa

Kitto boku wa orokana hito

Demo kimi mo onnaji orokana hito

Dakara wakattekureru to omotta

Sore o negatteshimattanda

Aa,

Kitto boku wa yasashii hito

Demo kimi ga boku yori yasashii hito

Dōka kimi dake wa boku mitaini sa

Hikari o miushinatte shimawanaide

Kitto boku wa orokana hito

Demo kimi mo onnaji orokana hito

Dakara kimi ga nami o omōka wakaru yo

Konna ketsumatsu jaiyada yo ne

Aa,

Tsuranuita shisō ga

Dareka no kokoro o koroshichatta

Sore dake ga tadashii to omotta

Kirai ni narenakute gomen ne

Aa,

Itsu no hi ka nageta kotoba ga

Zenbu kaettekichatta

Kono ondo wa tashika ni aru no ni sa

Kamisama janakute gomen ne

Aa,

Sayonara o shinai tameni

Kōsuru shika nakattanda

Kimi no me ni tayoritaku natteshimatta

Risō ni narenakute gomen ne

Aa,

Zen jinrui o aisu nante koto wa

Dekinakatta yo

Dakara dōka boku o urandekure

Kamisama janakute gomen ne

[reginrokkr]

✧ @apocryphis asked: "may i ask you something?" the voice of the sovereign does little to disturb the gentle drumming of the rain against the high windows of his chambers, pearls of water shimmering under moonlight and bathing them, near-asleep lovers, in healing silver glow. they are meant to drift to sleep, though neither one really needs it (but it is a pleasant ritual, to fall asleep with dainsleif in his arms, and his hand resting over his heart - one he has come to cherish as much as letting rainfall wash over him after too long a time cooped inside the walls of the palais) - and neuvillette almost feels the need to apologise for delaying that respite for his lover. almost. he is quite certain that once he hears what he has to say, dainsleif will understand where the dragon's thoughts have wandered too.

"you are much better travelled than i am, and must have heard your fair share of tales about them. certainly more than i have." neuvillette sighs, fingers absently grazing over his companion's shoulder as he speaks, shimmering eyes gazing over to the windows. " ... for many centuries, i thought i knew what to expect of the gods of this new world but... fontaine's recent developments and focalors'... demise - " neuvillette pauses, briefly. " ... have made me reconsider all that i had taken for granted."

eyes leave the falling rain trapped outside, and trail back to seek blond hair and the half-lidded sapphires shimmering underneath; an affectionate kiss pressed to the bough keeper's head as if to apologise for the odd timing of his questions. "you have seen what they have made of this world, good and worst - perhaps even met some of them... what do you make of them?"

Were Dáinsleif be asked what time of the day he favors, he wouldn't doubt to say night. Its darkness has never bothered him, having lived in a kingdom where hardly any light that bathes Teyvat in penetrated its deepest layers. Stars, countless as creatures in this world shimmering in the blanketed night sky keeping company to a moon coated with curses of the realm of death first, then a sun too ominous for those who never once saw its luster behind an entirely dark canvas. It is also the moment where dreams are born, dreams that people of that dreamless land wished to have. Night is the element Twilight Sword feels at ease the most, without that light he had no choice but get used to that can blind him when he's at his darkest moments.

But upon forming a relationship built in respect and trust above everything, with love thereafter... suddenly, his cold nights became warm; the dangers associated with this world's darkness melted with protection and a feeling of safety when he's in the dragon's arms; all the wrongs in the world that he works incessantly to right fade away if only just for a moment's repose.

Lunarescent knight nearly falls asleep if it weren't for Neuvillette's voice, softer than every calming raindrop hitting the windows outside. Sapphire irises look through albescent lashes at him, patiently in quiescent wait as a means to urge him to speak up his mind. Of all the topics they have addressed for the past centuries, the gods was, without a doubt, a prominent one. Except not in a manner of reflection upon encountering a crude reality right before their very eyes— in Neuvillette's more than his own, after watching the fall of a god. Not because of an act of rebellion from the humans' part as past instances in history, nor being slain by another god in a dispute for power.

Just as Leviathan conveys struggle in a moment when his beliefs are shaken by unexpected turns of fate, so Dáinsleif finds conflict in admittance of truths hard to utter.

◜In Khaenri'ah I met people of all walks of life with different ways of hatred towards gods, locals or outsiders who abandoned their faith and their homeland to find repose in another where they could find people with similar beliefs.◞ Suffice to say, as an aristocrat of high social standing and Twilight Sword, he was exposed to all, even absorbed some of it. ◜Due to their incessant pursue to find truths that discredit the gods and the kingdom's unique location nearby the Abyss, some of them were found and thus turned into the foundation to loathe these lying gods even more.◞

Even to this day, some of their arguments still stand true after having glimpsed into the truth of this world— the genesis of fate. In Dáinsleif's eyes, gods are no more than another kind of creatures that live in Teyvat with aptitude for higher power. But in essence, that is all these is about them: power. Not even they can understand themselves at times, even less humans nor realize when divine and mankind share more than they would believe. If only their delusions of grandeur didn't get in between.

◜Seizing the opportunity I had to look into the memories of this world, I have met all manners of gods, each with different ambitions and of different moralities. That, in combination with the existing gods at this moment of time, I can claim that not all of them can be of a kind.◞ His head accommodates on the pillow in a brief moment of contemplation, a sigh emerges from his nose. Similarly as Neuvillette has grown to like to do, Dáinsleif's bare hand reaches out to touch his beloved's chest, right over the post of his heart.

◜There are those who in their awareness of this world's imposed injustice by their own divine creators fought to the last to do something about it. Remus, God King of the olden Remuria is one such example: he sought to free everyone from the chains of fate with the creation of a symphony. Upon realizing the grave mistake he committed, everything he had caused... he didn't hesitate to forsake his life in order to mend his wrongs. Rhukkadevata, God King of Sumeru saw potential in humanity and used their dreams as a means to liberate this world from forbidden knowledge. Upon realizing that the last shard of forbidden knowledge was her, she forsook her life in order to eliminate the last remnants of defilement and herself from Irminsul. Focalors...◞ Another sigh follows, his hand snakes its way to cup the side of the Iudex's neck. ◜In order to save her people from an unjust curse and restore your missing dragonhood, she sacrificed her own life and her corresponding throne in the heavens.◞

◜What can I offer to gods like these, if not words of praise for their deeds?◞

Hard as it is to admit, it is the truth. No matter how much time he had spent in a kingdom that abhorred the gods or his personal beliefs on them, he can and will give credit where it's due. ◜Just as there are noble gods that are no more among us, or have lost the luster they held in the past...◞ Namely Nahida for one, young as she is for a god, she's doing what others weren't capable in millennia. ◜There are those who in their awareness of the higher divinities' deeds do naught for reasons that I cannot see beyond mere self-preservation.◞ Despicable in its own right, if he were asked. Too meek to do anything that could endanger their own lives, yet they behave even more timidly in their small revolts against the heavens. All their efforts insufficient if they truly seek a change unless what they fear is to become powerless or stop existing completely. ◜Little if anything can be said of those who aren't willing to make sacrifices to unfetter themselves from this unjust world.◞

Ultimately, seraphic hand reaches out to cradle Leviathan's face. Tender and encouraging, amorous and understanding. ◜It is hard to come to a solid conclusion when everything your beliefs are shaken. Nevertheless, I have faith in your judgement, that one day you will find your answer and act consequently. Until then...◞ Dáinsleif scoots closer to the dragon's body to press their foreheads together, albescent lashes flutter close. ◜Remember thus: the world won't stop for a decision to come, nor the examples I gave you make it any less constricted by unjust laws imposed by usurper gods. Nothing has to remain stagnant, either.◞

The same can be said for your king, whom no longer held animosity for us humans, creations of the greatest Usurper King... isn't that right?

[flowering-darkness]

How about, for Luna and/or Clio: ☁️ - does your f/o like to travel? where are some faraway places they'd like to go with you someday? (Dragonsmooch)

Dragon, I’m going to be honest, I completely forgot that I had reblogged an ask game. So, thank you so much for sending this to me - it really means a lot!!

(source: “⭐ assorted selfship ask game! ⭐” by yuzuru-p)

☁️ - does your F/O like to travel? where are some faraway places they’d like to go with you someday? - I think this is a really fun question to compare Luna and Clio’s perspectives, so I will answer it for both of them, if that’s alright!

Luna is agoraphobic, as was stated by her game’s creator. As such, I don’t feel that she would like travelling very much, especially not by herself. She has been shown to travel around Reborn itself a bit - I think the furthest she goes from the castle is the Glass Workstation in maingame and the Citae Prisma (which I think you get to through the Beryl Ward?) in postgame - but the journeys she has made have largely been only out of necessity to go home, or are due to her following Shade’s guidance. With that said, what I have read about agoraphobia seems to indicate that those with it can feel more able to go places if with someone they trust, and so I like to think that my/Adriana’s presence can help ease her fears a bit.

The main far-flung place I envision us going together is the Hoenn region, because it’s safe to say we both need a nice holiday after everything that happens in Reborn is finally resolved. We would spend quite a bit of time there after the grand finale, because of Adriana wanting to try her hand at Contests while she’s visiting, and I think that Luna would enjoy watching those even if she didn’t want to participate. I also think Luna would enjoy visiting Ballonlea in Galar, as well as cities like Laverre in Kalos (which is where Adriana was born!), but these would probably be briefer visits!

Clio, on the other hand, enjoys travelling a lot more! As a Keyblade wielder, she’s used to going to other worlds to help those residing there, and try to combat threats from rising villains. She likes getting to experience what all these different worlds are like and what sorts of things can be found in them - and she can also adapt to new situations on her travels fairly well! (This trait is also one that ported well to Final Fantasy XIV when I made her in that game - to the point that her in-game guardian deity is Oschon, the Wanderer!)

As a result of all this, I think it would be quite common for her to want to explore lots of different places with me/Aria, especially given the wide variety of worlds that were explorable in the age of fairytales (as seen in KHUX). Some are quite similar to each other, such as the Castle of Dreams versus the Enchanted Dominion, but others are very different, such as Olympus Colosseum or Game Central Station - so, there’s always something to see and do! Especially since, when left to her own devices, Aria will have a tendency to spend a lot of time in other worlds anyway, instead of hanging around Daybreak Town. So, with Clio there alongside her, it becomes more of an exploration than a concealment.

I hope that these answers were alright for you, friend! Thank you so much again for sending in this question!!

[drusic]

[deep-space-atomic-clock]

hello i hope this isnt weird but i recall you saying it's fine to message you and ive been thinking about it lately so for your consideration i think on fire by takamachi walk is a very asuka song thank you

not weird at all! thanks for the recommendation, yeah! boy those are some asuka lyrics if I've ever seen some. Could be used to provide an interesting perspective on his own feelings of his role in the world... just maybe.

If you'd like an askcore recommendation back, it's a rather different feel but All Love by Francis of Delirium does make me think of him...

[eldritchamy]

I have owned Baldur's Gate 3 for exactly 38 hours and I have played 29.7 hours of it on steam

[void-kissed]

"We'll fight as one!"

One of my friends said they wanted to see Aria and Clio battling together, and.. while my first instinct was to make a more proper set of double renders of us together in combat, my second instinct was to give them both the Combined Keyblade to wield together for the sheer fun and symbolism of it. So that's what this is!! ^-^

Tag list: @dragonsmooch | @sol-rbs | @bugsband | @sunlight-ships | @friezaforce | @hallowed-nebulae | @stargazer-sims | @potionomic | @detective-with-one-arm | @deepsea-loves | @mikaelrealman | @artificervaldi | @thatslikesometaldude (To be tagged in my work in the future, please see this post!)

(Anyone is welcome to comment on and reblog my work if desired, as long as my DNI is respected!)

[musical-chick-13]

“Ugh, but opera’s so bORiNg, it’s not about anything”

I am, at this point, BEGGING you. To watch/listen to a modern opera. Something made this century, or the end of the last one. It is no longer a request, it is a demand.

[socksandbuttons]

Simply just gonna think i can marry both reinhard and beatrice

I wish not to seperate them

Also i love the genuine love hinas family has for her its very sweet

[supercantaloupe]

i have such an ambitious idea for a don giovanni drawing that i really wanna do but i want to be able to do it justice and i fear that is beyond my skill level and resources at the moment

[bungouchronicles]

If you receive this, you make somebody happy! Go on anon and send this to ten of your followers who make you happy or somebody you think needs cheering up. If you get one back, even better! 💖💖💖

Aww thank you so much!! This is so sweet ily <3 😊💕

[aria0fgold]

Rotating possible isat oc in my mind and checking to see if they'll fr be made. So far I got ideas, like their pronoun sets gonna be they/it, I'm gonna give em closed squinty eyes out of laziness of always needing to draw two eyes but also cuz it looks cool tbh but it's mainly the laziness, I'm allowing myself a cheat with at least one character, I deserve that, as a treat. They live in Vaugarde too, but maaaybe they're from The Country as well, I love The Country. It'd be like-- They moved to Vaugarde for reasons and just one day, a Huge chunk of its memories just Vanishes. So yeah, that's what I got so far!

[reginrokkr]

» @maquiscursed asked: "Do not open your eyes yet." Neuvillette repeats for the third time, as though Dainsleif bears any chance of doing so, when the Iudex's gloved hand is covering closed sapphires as he guides him by the arm down a sinewy path. The Chief Justice of Fontaine has never been one for surprises -- but, over his many years spent dwelling among humans, he has learnt that surprises were, in fact, an appropriate, and even recommended occurrence for birthdays.

Neither he nor Dainsleif bear much importance to their so-called birthdays, but something this particular year compels the sovereign to, for once, try his hand at this particular custom.

The Iudex and the Bough Keeper leave the trodden path and soon find themselves in high grass, before their steps quickly find soil and sand again; and at last, Neuvillette brings their excursion to a stop. "You may look now." He commands, with a voice so softened, it might as well be a mere request. His hand falls back to his side, and he lets his companion take in the view before them; a tall weeping willow, towering over a crystal clear pond, dying sunlight shimmering between the branches like a cascade of early stars. Upon the 'beach' surrounding the pond, lays a table and two chairs, and a meal expecting its two guests (how the furniture and food were transported and kept at adequate temperature, shall remain a secret of the Palais Mermonia's best staff).

"I thought we might enjoy some time away from the madness of the Palais." Neuvillette muses, before extracting one last surprise, much smaller, but possibly more effortful, from his coat. A small box is handed to Dainsleif; upon opening, he shall find a locket, made of gold and bronze, delicately engraved with azure markings closely resembling the sourcewater patterns adorning his own person (few people know the Iudex to be a craftsman - Dainsleif is now one of them). If the Bough Keeper were to open the locket, he would find, entrapped in sturdy glass casing, a single drop of Spring of the First Dewdrops, shining a faint, pearl-like light within.

"You gave me something to remember you by; I thought it would only be appropriate to return the favour." The dragon of water smiles fondly at his companion - may this droplet of hope and optimism guide him even when his own unwavering hope wavers. "And I promise this dinner is not only made of water. Happy birthday, dearest Dainsleif."

Suspense is not necessarily one of Dáinsleif's cherished things, were he asked. In fact, it brings memories that aren't yet behind him in his long-lasting strife against the Abyss Order where this factor is nerve-racking at best until a clearer outcome shines through. However, when in combination with a presence soothing like holy water to his curse and a gentle touch calming like a balm, Twilight can tolerate it better without opposing resistance nor offering a huff of complaint.

The wait comes to an end at long last and so albescent lashes flutter open to take in the breathtaking sight before them. An emanation of what's been his biggest support for a very long time until his soul encountered repose in another primordial one standing pride and tall in all its cyan glory that pierces through the dyeing orange of the heavens as the sun sets down, all to give room to shy stars to glow crowned by a solemn moon. The clear water of the pond reflecting all colors like aquarelle —how in tune with Neuvillette, to search on purpose a body of water nearby to grant them its beauty— and the table right in front of them, clashing with the scenario in an amusing manner, teller of what the sovereign's insistence to exercise patience and trust in him was about.

And truth to be said, for all the surprise and confusion previous years when this day neared would cause Dáinsleif, Neuvillette never fails to surprise him with something new next. For the longest of time, the abandoned seraph took this day whenever it was possible as a moment of respite and to seek out the comforting presence of the rex, to heal from the solitude that every time becomes heavier the more he grows accustomed to linger in a trusted companion's presence. And today, in commemoration of their new union as lovers, the manner Neuvillette sought to do something for his birthday has bloomed in a different kind.

The Iudex's voice rouses him from his train of thoughts, thus does the knight look at him with interest and nigh puerile curiosity as he watched him fish something from his coat until he's presented a small box. You didn't have to— comes a thought born from small guilt that he has already done enough by bringing him here and arranging dinner for both, but a thought that would never pass past his lips, nevertheless. Dáinsleif opens the box with delicate care, as if his touch would suffice to break it if he weren't careful enough, and so the box reveals a locket that draws the luminary's attention even more.

He takes the little thing in his gloved hand and looks at it, takes in every delicate detail engraved so reminiscent of the innocent culprit that brought him here in the first place. Astral pupils look at primordial echoes for a silent confirmation that he can open it upon noticing that it must conceal something within before he does just that. Sapphire eyes soften at the sight of the dewdrop within and the immediate sentience of Neuvillette's power coalesced within. So small and hidden from external threats, but brilliant and precious when one takes the time to gauge the enormity of its meaning. The locket closes as Dáinsleif's hand closes around it to bring it to his chest, albescent lashes fluttering to a brief close before they open anew to look into draconic eyes.

◜I will treasure it, always.◞ Just as I do you— and our blossoming relationship. As the Iudex' attention returns to the table set for the two of them, Dáinsleif tucks the little locket inside the waistcoat, close to his heart. An amused smile plays on his lips as the Bough Keeper deafly reaches out for Neuvillette's hand to hold in order to guide him to the table as he guided him to this place before, not without pressing a gentle kiss on the back of his hand first. ◜That is for me to judge if it's the case, do you not think?◞ He huffs a soundless chuckle, then he squeezes his hand a tad. ◜Since we're here, let us enjoy this moment, shall we?◞

For filling the void in my heart that would never be filled, and for making me find happiness in a life that knew no justice... I thank you, ol Mph Arsl Gaiol.

[widevibratobitch]

it's Halka hours!