desperate measures

Happy birthday @vallablooded!!

【♟】 ______________________________

❝Excellent. You saved me the trouble of appointing guards to head in their direction. Truly, you are always looking out for me, darling love.❞

Aversa mused, pleased to know her child took the incentive to make sure the border is far more closely watched. It cannot be helped those dastards can be sneaky. Simply, next time they will not be so lucky.

Despite the Exalt’s word from the rebellion troubling her, she wouldn’t dare show it. Omens have always concerned her because who knows if they are to come true or not. Fates can be cruel. Expressing this fear might cause Inigo anxiety. Letting people see her falter would be far too disastrous. She must remain firm always. It didn’t keep her from letting out a soft sigh as her shoulders relaxed. 

❝My little prince…All grown up to. Where have the years gone? I miss when you ran between my legs and clung to me. Burying your face into my bosom when you become frightful too. Now you don’t need me.❞

“Oh, Mother...”

Inigo couldn’t help pulling her into a big hug, tightening his arms around Aversa and smiling into her silky white hair.  “I am standing here because of you.  You’ve worked so hard to raise me; to teach me what we’re meant to do.  And now I will repay you.”

“Mama.  I’ll do my best to make you proud.”  He paused for a moment.  Something was on her mind; though she tried to hide it, Inigo knew his mother well.  Yet she didn’t want him to worry, so... he’d acknowledge that effort and try not to pry.  Inigo finally let go and stepped back.

It was a sleepless night.  The man stood looking at the sky as he often did, out of breath from the dancing he’d done - it felt nice.

Of course, that peace couldn’t last forever; in came a girl with a concerned look on her face.  Like she wanted to talk about something.  Offering her a smile, he raised an eyebrow and tried to make light of the situation.

jacksfilms: is live

It had been so long since he last came here... stepping forward, feeling the grass and the Ylissean air and Soleil’s small hand in his, Laslow-- Inigo smiled.

“We’re home.”  He eyed the tall buildings of Ylisstol on the horizon.

Owain, Ophelia, and Severa had probably arrived through a different gate, so they were in a different place.  But they’d arranged to meet in front of the castle at Ylisstol as soon as possible.  Inigo hadn’t expected anyone to be around when he arrived - the gate was supposed to open to the middle of nowhere, according to Azura - yet he could see a back turned to him, not too far away.  The person seemed to be wearing a dark coat, and his hair was white...

...

“I only wanted you to get a feel of my arrow.”

Well, this was hardly going as expected.  Laslow was spending the day running errands on Felicia’s behalf (this is what he got for trying to woo her, wasn’t it...?) and at present he was having trouble with a particular vendor.

The old woman apparently didn’t trust him, thinking he was a Nohrian bandit.  And as much as Laslow insisted that he was Lord Xander’s retainer, that was apparently not believable enough.  Gods, he should’ve stayed at camp!

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone familiar.  Gaius?!  Wait, no--

“Hey, Uncle G-- hey, Asugi!” he called from across the market square, hoping the boy would hear him.  “Uh, mind coming over here for a minute?”

Welcome

At least Laslow wasn’t alone in the blushing department; Claire’s own cheeks were almost as red as his!

But even then…she gently took his hand…and gave it a soft squeeze.

“Laslow…I-I….love you. I loved you…s-since I found out…y-you didn’t d-die…back in Ylisse…b-but alive…a-and well with…O-Odin and Selena…”

If only she could go on…but she didn’t want to faint again!

“Claire,” he whispered, heart aflutter.  “Claire-- no, Esther.  Esther...”

There wasn’t going to be anybody around - and even if there was, he spoke in a hushed voice.  Their secret was safe.  Squeezing her hand back, and leaning in to touch foreheads with her, he blinked back tears of happiness.  “We’ve been so many places, and seen so many things.  But I don’t think I’ll ever see something as beautiful as you.”

((My apologies if this is a late answer, but I was actually thinking about the same thing.  I think I’m going to reblog some ask memes and post a starter call, so feel free to take part in those!  Thank you for asking!!

Jakob did a double take when Laslow spoke, a blush covering his face as he stuttered. Did the other actually just say that?

{❧} —- “P-Pardon me? Are you actually insinuating that I should wear an actual maid uniform?”

“NO.  I mean, yes.  I mean-- gods, no!”

“That was-- that was stream-of-consciousness, believe me!”  Not that it would make things any better...  So for extra effect, juuuuust in case Jakob didn’t believe him...