#the BEST PART of the zelkov

[lemon-grey]

I am done with my graceless heart - tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart

I like to keep my issues drawn - it’s always darkest before the dawn

[chainreh]

rambling about the fell xenologue royals bc i can ↓ spoilers for the entire dlc

okay first off im gonna say its a missed opportunity to not give them alternative designs bc then even if someone didnt like the story they could be like well at least i got to see goth alfred or something. im not a character designer nor am i good at fashion but id say firene have a more muted colour pallette, with like navy blues and grey rather than the bright blue of their coat of arms. brodia less flashy. i love the armour of brodia its very cool but doesnt super suit their ideals in this au. ivy in purple and golds contrasted to hortensia in just like. white idk. make her look like a commoner. and solm also less flashy. maybe like mustard yellow colours. idfk. someone can probably do this better than me.

anyway i am firene biased but i really liked the idea of alfred being more of a figurehead whilst céline is actually the one in control. yes this isnt outright said but i think its kinda implied from how alfred seems kinda nervous and depressed and is like "i have no idea how to be a king" whilst céline is like "alfred if you dont approve this invasion im just going to do it myself". even at the end where theyre "redeemed" céline says "i am here to support you, alfred. lets head back so you can rest, hm?" which just seems like our céline right? when alfred was dying she studied and prepared herself to be the new heir in case he passed away and she had to inherit the throne, but after his recovery she instead dedicated herself to supporting him the best she can, as well as focusing herself on taking care of the more unsavoury parts of ruling. but i think from everything we've seen about céline in this world, she's still just taking charge. céline is proud and angry, alfred is unconfident and depressed. and céline loves alfred so much that she's basically controlling him. she's not the opposite of our céline, she's just gone to the extreme.

contrasting this with the relationship of alcryst and diamant. like Alfred and céline, diamant is not confident and alcryst is proud and thinks himself more suited to leading. i dont think its ever said why their personalities are like this (other than rafal like controlling them and stuff) but its my headcanon ever since the trailer came out that perhaps morion died much earlier in this universe, where alcryst was too young to remember. so diamant grew up with one of his biggest fears being true, and i dont imagine bereavement counselling would be too realised in fire emblem universe, so it kinda manifested into extreme anxiety maybe causing the people around him to give up on him becoming a strong king, instead resorting to grooming alcryst to be the way he is. and alcryst seems to be planning to kill diamant and take the throne himself (i think diamant even has fears about this if u fight him with alcryst). alcryst instead of having a inferiority complex has a superiority complex bc everyone in this universe is like "diamant is so useless as a king, you 'd be much more suited alcryst" really showing how your environment can shape you.

for ivy first off i have to say, her and zelkov being besties in the alternate universe is literally so fucking funny. more importantly i've seen some people saying "oh she's like how we all thought she'd be before the game came out!" which i dont really agree with? bc everyone thought she'd a camilla clone right? but i'd argue the most important part of camilla's character is that she loves her siblings and will protect them no matter what which alt ivy is Definitely not doing. this ivy also hates poor people and values her devotion to the fell dragon above all else. like ofc a big part of our ivy is her devotion to the divine dragon, but it's also very important to her character that she prioritises her subjects above all else (i think the givre port chapter highlights this, wanting to hurry to help people who are alive rather than clear the port of the corrupted), but alt ivy is too busy trying to revive sombron and slaughtering the solm army to care about who dies. and hortensia. oh my dear sweet baby girl i fucking CRIED at alt hortensia vs ivy oh my godddddddddssdd. it seems ivy inherited at lot of her mother's beliefs in this universe and hates hortensia and has also killed all of her other half siblings hahaha :'). anyway hortensias abuse from her sister seems to have really impacted her self worth. and i think "parents died much earlier" should also be taken for the elusians as well bc hortensia got a lot of her confidence learning from her mother right? one thing that sorta sucks is hortensia vs. goldmary being like "the three of us wanted to stand out" whilst shes standing there in her fucking silly little clown outfit and decked out pegasus, so once again, alt designs would have really elevated the dlc imo. anyway alt hortensia i am giving u a big hug my baby i love you🫂

and onto solm. okay im sorry but timerra was so lame. they could have really done something cool with her being serious, stoic, and essentially robotic in her rule but its literally just "merrin what are you talking about you hate animals! and im a vegetarian and i hate singing! and panette you hate ghosts!" and like that is the extent of it. they didnt even bother to explain what solm was like in this universe and feels like they just added her into the elusia chapter to be like "look three way battle! just like three houses!!! you guys loved three houses right???" im sorry timerra they did u so dirty :/. fogado on the other hand. ough its so good. so fogado is dead (theyre all dead technically but fogado is dead dead and aware it) and instead of travelling the country to aid timerra he's instead working directly for rafal as assassin, and is implied to hate timerra (he says something like "i always wished i would be the one to kill my sister but i guess i'll to settle for killing her lookalike" in his vs. timerra dialogue). and i dont this this dislike is mutual (alt timerra says she wants to hug fogado in her vs. him dialogue iirc). this fogado seems to be more... bloodthirsty ig and less into the like. sneaky fighting he does in our universe. he mentions in his conversation with bunet that bunet is a brute on the battlefield (alt!bunet neurotypical confirmation where?) and fogado seems really fixated on how bunet looked covered in his own blood. we know that our fogado is actually very scared about the war underneath his friendly persona from his supports with pandreo, but alt fogado seems much more emotionless about it. in fact this might tie into solm in this universe thinking about it, instead of being free they all repress their emotions or something, bc even though alt fogado still talks in a sorta lighthearted candace, if a little more intense sounding and sounds Especially off whilst reminiscing on bunet and pandreo's deaths. his final death quote being "im not scares. ive died twice now... whats one more time?" sure okay buddy i believe you.

thats about it for my thoughts. tbh i wish we got more screentime with these guys. nel and rafal and the winds are great dont get me wrong but i wish they had focused a bit more on the royals and how they are different to how they are in our universe (even tho there are a lot of unique boss convos with them most of the ones I've seen were not super interesting or insightful :/and you definitely cant get all of them in a single playthrough im pretty sure). sorry for the long post ty if u read this far🫶

[zelkov-is-babygirl]

The best part of waking up is Zelkov

[alealueur]

@maligns * ✲ 『 liked for a starter┊☓』 — ZELKOV

Although the circumstances that brought Zelkov into their ranks wasn't the best memory for him, Alear could still appreciate the reassurance his presence brought as they regained their strength. While they had lost a majority of the rings, it was best to keep looking forward as they gathered the ones that hadn't been claimed by the Four Hounds or Sombron's daughter (the girl he had once thought was a friend).

Part of looking forward seemed to take form in the act of getting to know his new recruits, and the manakete had gotten the chance to see the dark-haired thief's secret place that held a vast collection of trinkets, books, and contraptions that helped him kill time, as he said in his accented form of speaking. It was no secret that Alear had found the place awe-inspiring. There was different things to occupy time, and he had found himself drawn to one of the books he had caught sight of within that collection.

Zelkov had mentioned a book he had penned himself about culinary delights. Although such a topic was mundane and hardly useful outside of sneakily attempting to cook in the Somniel's kitchen, knowing that a new ally of his had written these recipes made Alear think that maybe he could learn a bit more about him.

Except said book author decided to catch him right as he grabbed the book from the shelf to begin reading.

❝ Hello, Zelkov, ❞ Alear greeted him, barely holding back a stammer from the unexpected showing. His eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face the other man, and he intuitively hid the book behind him as if he was caught doing something he shouldn't have. Sure, Zelkov had allowed him to browse and handle the items his collection, but for some reason, the manakete couldn't help but feel a little guilty about taking something and using it without updated permission.

❝ Can I help you with something? ❞

The default question, yes. Most usually came to him with concerns, so what harm would it do if he posed that question?

[raxistaicho]

Are we not Engaged? Part 5

Spoilers under the cut

-Dragon loli Azura is getting attacked by Corrupted.

-She’s looking for her sister. Alear 100%

-What does getting Sommie to max joy do anyways? Oh well, making the littler bugger happy is fun XD

-Alear Yunaka C: I can’t stop hearing Ahri when Yunaka talks lol. “I’ve merc’d a time or two,” okay that was legitimately nice word play. Honestly, I like Yunaka most when she slips into killer mode when she scores crits. I’m probably trying to read too deep into her, but I’m curious where her real self starts and ends.

-Louis Yunaka C: Louis gives her tea. What is it with Firenans and tea. Louis asks Yunaka about her family, Yunaka kinda dodges the question and Louis tactfully withdraws. Not much happens here, but I suspect we’re building to something.

-Citrinne uses big hurty lightning \o/

-Celine Louis C: T E A. Celine likes to smell her tea. Louis knows where special tea is and Celine’s excited.

-Alcryst Citrine C: Citrine’s training, Alcryst praises her for it. She’s upset about not being strong enough for some reason.

-Hmm, seems I can’t actually take master seals into battle, that’s interesting.

-On to Brodia castle and chapter 8.

-Oh wow, Brodia castle looks even harder to take than Firene castle.

-Diamant is coming to greet us, hopefully he doesn’t take a shot at us or try to start an international incident.

-There’s something off-puting about Diamant’s eyes.

-Morion’s voice actor is terrible.

-Diamant apparently argues with Morion not to leave the castle. What, is he not capable of defending himself in this kingdom of might? Also the game actually froze in the middle of Morion’s dialogue for a bit, I never had that happen in Three Houses.

-It happened again lol.

-Morion just tosses Roy’s ring at Diamant, wtf... I know I’m supposed to see him as good-hearted and friendly, but he’s just acting like a another doofus.

-Here’s Roy. Thank god his summoning tune wasn’t a remix of Beyond the Fucking Sky. Or at least not one I recognized.

-Oh hey, here Ivy. “She’s dodging all our wyverns’ attacks.” We’ll see if that translates to gameplay lol.

-Ivy’s gonna take my life and my soul. Oh boy, more edgy cliches. At least she’s not as annoying as Hortensia. Oh she’s actually remorseful.

-Oohhh, the Sage Lord was Leif.

-Oh christ I already don’t like Amber.

-Citrinne got a Constance level! \o/ Oh well, with her meh base speed she might as well quadruple-down on poking. Besides, I have Celine when I need a monster-fast mage (17 speed roflmao)

-Etie’s decision to just really really stupid strong worked out when she dealt Zelkov a crushing 22 damage with a crappy Longbow, lol.

-Zelkov is like he's trying to be Hubert but he doesn't realize part of the charm is Hubert just embraces who he is and also takes it out for a romantic evening. At least he’s not lacking in noticeable character traits like Kagetsu.

-”With this ring, nothing and no-one will take me down.” They all say that. Then I send Celine after them.

-We got Leif \o/

-”Emblem of Genealogy” I really fucking hate how Leif is representing Genealogy Gen 2 rather than Thracia.

-”How could I have failed,” you flew straight into an ambush.

-Wait, did we just let Ivy leave???

-King Hyacinth is trying to challenge Morion into combat.

-Morion is toss around death flags like crazy. No idea why Diamant is so afraid when Brodia has been at war with Elusia for ages.

 -Diamant is boring as shit as a character. Morion’s supposed to be jolly and fun but he’s just an idiot.

-Finally we reference whether or not Alear can turn into a dragon. She absolutely will before the end.

-Oh my god, Catherine’s alive and she got old and came to Brodia!!!

-Celine Alear B: TEA. Seems bandits are attacking tea trade routes. What is it with Firenans and tea. Eve is sending Celine after the bandits because... she knows the most about tea? What? Alear asks what she’ll do, Celine says she’ll “drive them off with pranks”. Celine, you’re like my best soldier, just go kill them all \o/ Celine laments that real life isn’t so fanciful, then she raises things to 11 by saying she’ll do whatever it takes to protect her people. I mean I have her burn my foes to death easily but eh.

-Oh nice this game carries over Echoes’s weapon transformation system. Except unlike Echoes it gives you materials at better than a drip-feet.

-Framme Chloe A: Oh my god, it’s still the same scene. Framme accidentally gave Chloe a sandwich of fried bugs. This is literally just their B support being repeated!

-Celine Etie B: T E A. Turns out Alfred almost died when he was young and Celine had to toughen up because of it. Etie’s hand is still trembling. Oh she’s using her weird weighted teacups again. Celine’s handled cannonballs???

Celine Alcryst C: Celine’s out late because she can’t sleep. She admits to having recurring nightmares due to lingering trauma of when Alfred was sickly, Alcryst says he fears Diamant dying too. This one was legitimately a good support convo, it’s like something from 3H.

-Citrine Clanne C: Citrinne bugs me, she’s trying to be a refined mature lady but she’s got the same babyface as the other girls. Clanne’s trying to help a withered wildfowe, Citrinne is pleased for it. I think this has something to do with her obsession with getting stronger.

-Oohh, gold corrupted. I wanna see what that’s all about.

-Oh no, the fog of war is back.

-Alear Alcryst C: Alear almost gets ambushed... by a wolf. Alcryst asks the wolf to leave Alear alone... and then begs it to leave... This is worse than anything Bernadetta ever did.

-I began a relay just now. Later I shall see what the ignorant masses achieve with my incredible Louis, Celine, and Chloe.

-Celine Alcryst B: Turns out Morion stupidly made Alcryst worry that his father and brother will die. Alcryst goes to check Diamant whenever he’s woken by his nightmares. They pledge to support each other.

-Alcryst Diamant C: They’re sparring. Diamant is mostly trying to help out Alcryst’s mindset, but Alcryst is stubbornly pessimistic. It ends on Alcryst wondering if Diamant has any weaknesses.

-Alcryst Lapis C: Alcryst vows to protect Lapis because he thinks he’s worthless, but it makes Lapis really uncomfortable.

-Vander Amber C: Vander is devoted and stuff, Amber’s stupidly looking for a legendary weapon he thinks might be at the Somniel because he’s Amber and he’s stupid. Vander tells Amber he needs to make a weapon legendary by becoming legendary.

That’s all for now, next will be chapter 9.

[yourladystar]

Star's Engage Catalogue Day 20 (part 4)

I did it, I best the map! And it went a lot smoother this time.

I think my problem with my first attempt was that I was trying to rush it down and didn't play smart with my units. I sometimes forget that I am still playing a Fire Emblem game, and therefore I have to use my brain. I swear, I'm sometimes as dumb as I am smart.

Side note

Damn, Zelkov is pretty when engaged with Eirika! I know you can't really see it because of my camera, but trust me, he's f*cking pretty!

[childofaura]

So opinions of Alear aside and I’m not to sure how far you got into FE Engage but…

What are your opinions on all four Engage Lords: Alfred, Diamant, Ivy and Timerra? I personally think they’re badasses and they are huggable, dorky best friend materials as well.

So far I JUST got Timerra. I am absolutely not a fan of the levels where you have to visit a house…

To be honest, it’s not necessarily that Alear is BAD, it’s just that her character was executed so poorly. I did just get the A-support convo with Zelkov, and the fact that Alear is so fond of Zelkov that she starts imitating his speech pattern is actually pretty charming. If only her character design didn’t suck and she had more meaningful dynamics besides everyone kissing her ass all the time.

Ok so SO FAR, I do have opinions, and again these are personal opinions because a few may be unpopular.

Alfred: I feel really mixed about him. His personality doesn’t shine through strong enough in the main story and he’s just generic prince. In his supports though? I think he’s hilarious and I kind of wanted to see more of that in the main story. He could have been more in awe of Diamant’s physique, asking the king about Brodia’s exercise secrets, etc. But they didn’t really do anything with that. Like Fogado’s personality really shows itself even in the cutscenes, Alfred’s… meh.

Diamant: I REALLY hate to say it, but Diamant hasn’t shown much personality either, besides being serious. There was one moment I really liked, where he is up against Morion and he asks “Was I a good son?”, something that suggests some level of insecurity. If we’re being honest, I actually feel like Alcryst is the stronger of the two characters. He’s super low self-esteem, meek, and timid, but there’s a beautiful strength hidden within him; his first appearance showed him bravely confronting Alear when he thought they were bandits, and when HE fights Morion, he says that he must be the one to kill Morion so the burden doesn’t fall on Diamant’s shoulders.

Ivy: I’ll say this one upfront, I don’t like Ivy much at all (and that’s not just because she’s mean to Zelkov, though that’s part of it, lol). I didn’t like her creepy exchange with Alear during their first fight (“If I show it [Emblem Ring] to you, will you come closer” or something like that) that showed some borderline obsessive tones (another reason I don’t like Alear being treated so highly). Sadly, again, I think Hortensia is the stronger personality of the two. She teases Alear maliciously the first time they meet, she loves her father and Ivy so much that she’ll do anything for both of them (she was so hardcore to avenge Ivy, AND HOT DAMN THE LINE DELIVERY OF THE JAPANESE ACTRESS WHEN SHE SAW HER FATHER DIE. BRUTAL), and she’s just more interesting overall. Though I will say in Ivy’s defense, her support with Louis so far is very interesting and actually plays to the advantage of her apathetic character.

Timerra’s ok overall, but I only just recruited her. I feel like if the game REALLY wanted us to grow attached to her, they should have switched her role with Fogado’s. She can still be the main lord with the Emblem, but make HER the one who saves Alear in the desert. Also gotta say, not a fan of the crazy singing, but that’s more based on me having the auts, so shrill singing is a no go for me, lmao.

Overall, I don’t think they’re BAD, persay. Though I may not be the best person to ask, I’m not very partial to main-story lords and ladies most of the time (except Dimitri and to some extend the Fates royals), I usually discard them the moment I get to more interesting characters later in the story. I think I just wish their execution was a little better, but to be honest I think I just wish the execution in the whole game was better in general.

[acrosstimeandspace]

Fallacy, mirror, palindrome, and yellow ^-^

hi angel!! thank you for the ask, i hope your day is going well and please take care! i’ll be doing these for beril, my fe engage s/i!

6) Fallacy 🗣 - How good are they at lying or tricking others? Do they put on an act or are words enough? What’s the most outrageous lie they’ve told so far?

it very much varies depending to who he’s lying to and what he’s lying about. beril cannot at all lie to his brothers or fathers about anything, the best he can do is just avoid the question or change the topic.

but, he’s pretty good at lying to others. beril knows how to read a room and put on a good front for people to see him as a sensible, tactical prince with a steady head on his shoulders. he’s got ton of practice from learning how to in court, in order to make himself fit more “in” with his family. he’s great at making it seem like things don’t hurt him.

his biggest lie thus far is probably something small like liking a dish that tasted terrible. because while beril can lie, he only ever really does so if it’s necessary for peace, or to not hurt someone’s feelings.

13) Mirror 🪞 - How does ur s/i see themself? What’s their ideal self?

beril’s view of himself is complicated. he’s a part of brodia’s royal family but he feels a need to constantly prove himself. he appreciates that he’s got a big heart but he doesn’t want too many others to know. he loves cute things but will not show it. he knows his family sees him as enough but he wonders if he is.

and to be honest, his ideal self is just him. able to call his friends cutesy nicknames and enjoy cute things, while still being a respected prince like his brothers.

16) Palindrome 🖇 - What other characters are ur s/i similar to / inspired by? (Doesn’t have to be from the same source)

so i think alcryst and beril and pretty similar which is funny bc at first that wasn’t my intention. but, they’re both brodia royals who feel like they’re not good enough. and while alcryst presents this very outwardly, beril hides this behind a facade of a cool, collected prince.

also on a more fun note, beril and their retainers are based on queen beryl and nephrite and kunzite from sailor moon! after deciding on the name beril, i thought that’d be a fun tie in!

23) Yellow 💛 - What helps your s/i feel relaxed? Do they have a certain spot they like to go to?

beril has a not so secret plushie collection they like to surround themself with when they get stressed. he just finds it really nice to have something to hold!

he’s also found that there’s a few spot in brodia’s castle that relax him like the little reading nook near diamant’s room and the small garden near alcryst’s. being near his siblings just brings a sense of relief to him. also, they like to hang out in zelkov’s creator space because they find his presence soothing.

[maligns]

zelkov fe:th headcanons

which house?

definitely feel like he would vibe the best in the abyss / as a part of the ashen wolves. i feel like he doesn’t really fit the style of any of the other three houses?? on surface level he shares *similarities* with hubert but i feel like on a moral / political level he would clash with the black eagles a ton. the blue lions would be too earnest and friendly for him, and the golden deer ideology would be too radical for him as well. he’s very much a guy who wants to be left alone to do his own thing, for which. mad respect.

sad backstory

after his parents are killed by bandits, he sought refuge and protection from the church, who relocated him to the abyss. he’s one of the few abyssians that stay there out of pleasure rather than necessity. he’s not running from anything, but he doesn’t have anywhere better to go either. staying in the abyss and lurking throughout the castle at random times of the day is much more... *enjoyable*. probably loves all the pets at the castle as his own + helps out at the local orphanage from time to time because he’s a sweet man.

war involvement

after garreg mach was attacked, he helps out a ton with the war efforts and to get the affected villagers of towns relocated and children safe. could envision him allying with yuri and aiding rhea / allying with the church directly. don’t believe he’d proactively want to be a part of the warfare, but out of necessity / reinstating peace, he would fight to bring a better future to the next generation. i also foresee him joining forces with blue lions or golden deer at this point if they return to garreg mach for refuge, post-timeskip.

[elusivia]

Toa Open!

This most recent run of the Arena results in more injuries than usual, and with resources scarce as-is, the infirmary turns to lesser-used remedies and ancient herbs to try to treat these wounds. Few people want to try them, for good reason: the list of potential side-effects is almost as long as your final essay in history class. Yet the nurses are in grave need of test subjects willing to test out these new cures. Will you help them out?

Delicious tea... or deadly poison?

Every herbalist had had such thoughts. Even Zelkov's mother hadn't known everything that stubbornly grew under Elusia's frost. They learned what they could, knowledge tested and preserved, yet sometimes clarity became murky.

When it came to healing, the stakes were higher than that of trying to brew a cup of tea. When legend said an herb could rid someone of poison, were they sure? What part of the plant was best to use, anyway? Zelkov was growing desperate enough to even consider healing spells. The stream of students coming through seemed endless. How had illusions done more damage than the physical mock battle?

"I have an *idea*." Zelkov told his patient.

He held up a vial of red sap. "This is called *dragon's blood*, though I assure you it came from a *tree*. I believe it could work its healing *wonders* on you if prepared correctly."

He hesitated.

"*Could.*"

Eclectic Elixir [TOA Open]

[lemon-grey]

Title: Cold Rain (also posted on AO3)

Summary: Zelkov reminisces about his lost brother; a drabble commission for @kindcalico

CW: none

Words: 725

.

.

It was just after lunchtime when the sound of rain falling in heavy sheets around the castle jolted Zelkov out of his regular afternoon drowsiness. Rain was very uncommon in Elusia; typically, temperatures remained so low that any precipitation came in the form of snow or ice, and true rain only occurred a few times in a year. This was one of those rare days, and as he wandered down the halls toward one of the castle’s balconies, he couldn’t help but let it take him back to a memory from long ago.

Rain had been falling that day, too. It sloshed against the window at the front of the small log house where he had lived, and it dripped through cracks in the roof as the wind battered against the front door. Zelkov and his brother Mashka—both eight years old at the time—had spent the morning huddled in front of the fireplace, making sure the wind didn’t knock any embers out into the house and trying to keep warm. Every so often, a gust howled noisily past the thin walls, not unlike the sound of wolves on the distant horizon, causing Mashka to scoot closer to Zelkov each time.

“It’s only the wind,” Zelkov said, the third time this happened. “We’re safe if we stay inside.”

“I wish Mama didn’t have to go.” Mashka idly played with the key that hung around his neck—the one to the back door of their home. Their mother had only recently given each of them a key to each of the two doors of the little house, and both of the boys had been wearing them proudly ever since, certain that they were quite grown up with such a responsibility.

Zelkov, however, liked to think he was even more grown up than his brother. He sat up straight, crossing his arms over his chest and trying to sound mature as he spoke. “Mama has an important job as a healer, and she has to take care of people even if it’s storming,” he said, reciting what their mother had told them earlier that morning.

His brother frowned at him. “You’re probably scared too, Zelly,” he said. “Stop pretending.”

“I’m not scared of wind and rain.” Zelkov shrugged; he really wasn’t afraid of the weather, even if he didn’t have much experience with storms. It was a little unnerving being left alone during one, but he knew their mother would be back as soon as she could, and he didn’t mind taking care of Mashka in the meantime.

Another loud gust rattled the front door and Mashka jumped, startled, before pulling the hood of his shirt up over his head.

Zelkov hated to see his brother so frightened. The two were inseparable, the best of friends, and always there to look out for each other. When the other children in the small village teased Zelkov for his odd behavior, Mashka was there to defend him; when Mashka got hurt falling out of a tree, Zelkov was there to take him home and treat his injuries. Although Zelkov was older by seven minutes (a fact that he often used when he wanted to get his way about something), the two had never been apart from each other since birth, and they were both keenly aware of each other’s feelings and needs, too.

So, even though Zelkov didn’t mind the storm, he put an arm around Mashka and said, “I guess it’s a little scary.”

Mashka nodded. “I told you.”

“When it’s over, maybe we can go out and look for mushrooms.”

“You think Mama will make mushroom soup if we do?”

“I hope so.”

The two boys had spent the rest of the stormy morning chatting about their plans for an upcoming mushroom adventure, and so their mother had found them a couple of hours later, happy and safe as if nothing had bothered them at all.

The memory was an old one, long since buried under ashes and pushed into the part of Zelkov’s mind that he rarely explored anymore, but he smiled to himself as he remembered it anyhow. Leaning against the cold stone wall of the castle, gazing out the window to the rain beyond, he thought of Mashka, and he wondered if he might find some mushrooms for soup after the storm passed.

[lemon-grey]

Tagged by @omgkalyppso - thank you!!

Rules: Link a few recent pieces of writing that I think best define me/my aesthetic/my personality.

What I like writing most: grief and moving past it; boys pining about each other’s pretty eyes

—

“To the Sun, to the Ground” - FE3H; ferdibert; 2k words

The rain was chilly and Hubert was instantly soggy; his cape hung on him with the additional weight of so much water, and he grimaced at the sensation of his cold, wet hair plastered against his face. He’d only been standing in the rain for a few moments, but he already felt the cold seeping through his skin to his bones, making his hands ache. He shivered involuntarily as he stood there, rigid and unmoving.

Beside him, Ferdinand threw his head back and laughed wildly at the sky. He, too, was soaked through, with his hair clinging to his neck and back, and something peculiar and frivolous stirred in Hubert’s chest at the sight.

—

“Before the Dawn” - FE Engage; zelgetsu; 25k words

(I’ll always be so proud of this one)

Kagetsu reached out from beneath his blanket to grab Zelkov’s hand. He threaded their fingers together carefully as he said, “I am not trying to make you cornered again. I only want to be your friend.”

His hands were cold.

His breath, so close to Zelkov’s neck, was hot.

Zelkov squeezed his eyes shut tightly.

“I think we are friends,” he said after a long pause, and he meant it. As much as anyone was his friend, Kagetsu certainly was.

A friend.

A fellow retainer.

(A man who was sitting very, very close and breathing warm against his skin and smelling like smoke and steel and soap and gazing up at him with firelight in his eyes—)

A sparring partner.

Someone he could almost trust.

—

“Navigating” - Pokemon SwSh; RaiLeon; 20k words

(Probably my favorite thing I’ve ever written! I still look back on this fic like “what do you mean this came out of me???”)

Raihan sighed. “I can still smell the blood,” he said quietly. “There was so much. I thought he was dead. And then I went over to him and he wasn’t dead, so I thought I was going to watch him die.” He tensed. He’d never said that last part aloud before.

The therapist waited.

“And then for weeks I kept thinking I was going to wake up and have a phone call telling me he was gone. But none of that happened, so it’s really fucking stupid for me to still be this upset.” Raihan gritted his teeth, punctuating his words with a few slams of his fist against the loveseat’s cushion as all his frustration reached its boiling point.

[twistedisciple]

"Good." Griss pressed down, indignation and glee a maelstrom in his eyes. With his first pinned to the ground, Zelkov had brought out a second knife and its blade dug into the studded leather that bound Griss' neck. "'cause the pain's the best part!" Death meant giving up. It meant relinquishing feeling. To go numb, to run from sensation, both were just a living death. Whatever Griss' recklessness conveyed to the public eye, it was not death that he chased, and for a split second, he thought he saw understanding in Zelkov's eyes.

Suddenly something heavy clapped him on both shoulders and dragged him back, though his fingers still tried to claw at Zelkov's shirtfront. An icy wind burst through the room as if a door had been left open to a blizzard and drove the rest of the onlookers away in in search of a warmer corner. It was a clear warning, and one Griss tried to ignore as he fought against his restraints like a rabid animal snapping for its prey.

Lightning cracked. "Enough."

Startled by the abrupt noise, Griss finally stilled. He blinked down at Zelkov.

"Just when it was getting good, too." Thunder rumbled threateningly and Griss held up both of his hands in acquiescence. "I know." He flipped one over to examine the cut on his palm. The blood around it was still wet. That was something, at least. What's more, he had seen something all too familiar in the ex-assassin. Maybe he wasn't a follower of the fell dragon anymore, but he had been one, once. He'd tasted blood.

Griss glanced back at Zelkov as a smirk snaked across his lips.

"Let's do this again sometime."

Deadly Dance [Event: Griss & Zelkov]

[lemon-grey]

🎭💝 for zelkov!

Love language headcanon;

His love language is actions/gifts—as he shows by making a painting for Kagetsu and a sweater for Amber’s family and a sculpture for Alear—and he’s ALL about making sure that whatever he does for someone else is done to the best of his abilities.

If Zelkov makes you something with a lot of attention to detail then you can absolutely believe he cares!

Headcanon about lies:

Pre-Alear, he kind of lies about everything—not because he wants to, exactly, but because that’s just part of the survival mode he’s been living in since he was a child. Lying about himself is self-preservation; that said, it’s all the more meaningful when he opens up to the people on the Somniel & starts letting his true self out.

He doesn’t feel like he has to lie or hide or protect himself so much around his found family and I think that’s great for him!! (This ties into his tendency canonically to speak plainly & without his vocal tic when he’s talking about/to people he cares about.)

[elusivia]

It took Zelkov a moment to realize that someone had addressed him as professor, though he wasn't a professor of anything except being taller than most people present. He turned to her, listening to her thoughts attentively.

Truth be told, he often relied on other's strategy. Zelkov glanced to the ballista, wondering how to make the lesson seem relevant.

"You have a *point*, though I'm no tactics professor. I'm usually a *covert* operative, or a medic. However, there is something to knowing a tool's *purpose*." He laid his hand on the ballista, pondering. "Often, the middle of a battlefield is the *last* place you'd find such a device. Ballistae are often part of a *fortress*, castle, or other defensible *area*, and there may be several of them to aid in *aerial* defense. So, as far as *teamwork* goes, it would normally be best to keep such artillery out of the enemy's hands and to guard each other during combat."

He hoped that cleared things up. At least, it sounded good to him.

"Now, I can demonstrate how to *fire* a bolt, or would someone else like to volunteer?" He gestured to the audience, overcoat dramatically flowing out behind him, so much so that he had to untangle the end from the inner workings of the ballista.

Catabolting [Open]

The Battle of the Eagle and Lion is coming soon! The armorers are holding a seminar on the infamous hilltop ballista, allowing students to learn what goes into its maintenance and care. You’re even allowed to make a few test shots! [Grants Bow +1]

It should be expected, at a military academy, that students learn the ins and outs of all methods of warfare. Zelkov carefullytread the past and future battlefield of the Battle of Eagle and Lion, already imagining what scenes may unfold in the combat to come. As faculty, it was not his place to take sides, but he supposed he could be assigned to the team lacking the most in numbers, for the spirit of fairness.

He liked the thick trees and underbrush, the leaves that wove shadows over the land even under the sun. A nimble thief could lay in wait within, shielded from sight, even from arrows. The seminar regarding the ballista, however, was located at the least tactically appealing location.

A hill, clear of all cover, in the middle of the battlefield. They might as well be playing king of the hill, if the struggle to siege the siege weapon was so vital to victory. Zelkov hung in the back of the crowd of the seminar, watching as an instructor demonstrated the workings of the ballista.

Stored tension, ropes, levers, he could pick it apart with his eyes. It’s very nature as an invention of war, produced and mass produced, was unbearably dull.

The instructor stepped away, offering the ballista for anyone to try firing.

Zelkov turned to the person nearest to him. As faculty, he ought to try and be supportive and assist seminar attenders.

“I am no *archer*, but I can lend my aid in the understanding of this device.”