* rule number one : do not call me ' ANAXA ' . ⠀⠀⠀ * rule number two : never interrupt me — silence is golden . remember that .

♯ SCHISMATICA⠀﹕⠀a headcanon based, independent *𝙰𝙽𝙰𝚇𝙰𝙶𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚂 from 𝙷𝙾𝙽𝙺𝙰𝙸 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁 𝚁𝙰𝙸𝙻 . studied by 𝕽UE ( * 𝟹𝟶 + ˢʰᵉ / ʰᵉʳ ) ocs & crossover heavily encouraged . 𝟸𝟷+ access .

⸻⸻ ✶ ⵌ 𝑺𝑳𝑬𝑾𝑯𝑼𝑵𝑫 . an ind. semi - selective 𝑨𝑺𝑯𝑽𝑬𝑰𝑳 from 𝑯𝑶𝑵𝑲𝑨𝑰 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹 𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑳 . hired by ⠀𝕽𝐔𝐄 ( ³⁰ ⁺ she ╱ her )⠀21 + access .

caretaker.

i'll  stay  until  you  fall  asleep.

you're  not  a  burden.  not  to  me.

you  don't  have  to  act  tough  with  me.

let  me  help.

if  you  need  to  cry,  i'll  look  the  other  way.

you  don't  have  to  talk.

let  me  handle  it,  just  for  a  minute.

rest,  i'll  watch  over  you.

i  don't  care  if  you  think  you're  fine.  i'm  staying.

deep  breaths.

just  lean  on  me.

you're  safe  now,  okay?  just  breathe.

i  know  it  hurts.  i'll  sit  here  as  long  as  it  takes.

i'm  not  leaving  until  i  know  you're  okay.

you  don't  need  to  hide.

let  me  take  care  of  you  this  time.

shh.  i'm  right  here.

you  don't  have  to  put  on  a  smile  for  me.

i  don't  think  less  of  you.

i'll  be  here  when  you  wake  up.

you're  allowed  to  lean  on  me.  that's  what  i'm  here  for.

you  don't  have  to  be  okay.

scoot  over,  i'm  not  letting  you  sleep  alone.

your  hair's  a  mess.  let  me  brush  it.

don't  apologize.

cared  for.

i'm  tired,  that's  all.

please  don't  go.

i  don't  know  what  i  need.

you  didn't  need  to  come.

you  shouldn't  have  to  see  me  like  this.

i  hate  feeling  like  this.

i  was  trying  to  push  through.  i  think  i  made  it  worse.

this  is  so  embarrassing.

can  you  just...  stay  a  little  longer?

i  didn't  think  anyone  would  notice...

i'm  not  safe  in  my  own  head  right  now.

why  are  you  being  so  gentle  with  me?

i  don't  want  you  to  fix  me.

today's  just...  one  of  the  harder  days.

i  didn't  know  i  needed  to  hear  that.

can  you  stay?  after  i  fall  asleep?

sorry.  i  didn't  mean  to  flinch.

i  don't  always  know  what's  going  to  help.

this  is  the  nicest  anyone’s  been  to  me  all  week.

i'm  sorry.  i  know  i'm  a  lot.

i  don't  even  know  why  i'm  crying...

i  think  i'm  broken.

you  didn't  have  to  do  all  this  for  me.

i  don't  want  to  be  a  burden.

That   was   enough   for   her   to   know   he   had   a   sincere   and   gentle   heart.   "I   -   I   see.   I   didn't   realize   just   how   dangerous   things   were   here.   I   suppose   I   was   naive   to   think   I'd   be   fine   as   long   as   I   minded   my   own   business." 

 As   he   gestured   for   her   to   take   his   hand,   a   soft   dusting   of   pink   blossomed   over   her   ivory   cheeks.   Even   though   this   was   just   an   act,   she'd   never   held   hands   with   a   guy   before.   She   hesitated,   for   just   a   mere   second   ..   before   accepting.   "Yes....   this   is   probably   for   the   best.   Thank   you   again."   As   they   began   to   walk,   brows   rose   in   realization.   "I...   haven't   asked   for   your   name   have   I??   I'm   Sigrika."

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⠀⠀⠀𖤝 ᭪⠀ * ❛ normally, the streets of Planarcadia aren't too bad . especially not since i've been here to set it straight . but unfortunately, you can't fix everything, & the truly unruly ones come out at night . good thing i'm a bit nocturnal myself, huh ? ❜ his broad chest rumbles softly with a good - natured laugh ; accompanied by the lacing of his cool, metal digits betwixt her own . a perfectly deceiving gesture of that of lovers, to an outside eye . his scent wafts through the air to Sigrika's nose ──── night - blooming jasmine, palo santo, the smell of jet - black coffee . he smelled luxurious, which matches his undeniably sharp clothing, like some mysterious benefactor that had swept in like a shade of moonlight .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * upon the girl asking for his name, the stranger tilts his head down towards her . his gaze meets hers, his eyes incredibly intense & lupine with their silvermoon sheen & inverted pupils, but somehow, all that intensity seemed to be perfectly balanced on a face that was gentle, almost softening the sharp edges of that apex predator gaze . he smiles with cupid - bowed lips, dark lashes lidding a touch heavier over his eyes .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * ❛ it's a pleasure to meet you, Sigrika . even under these circumstances . i'm Ashveil ; of the Ashen Detective Agency . ❜ each word is a velvet - warm embrace, a comfort in each syllable . the name drop of his profession provides an even deeper sense of ease, providing proof that he was no random stranger with ulterior motives ; but someone with a deep sense of justice in his heart .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * ❛ it's my job to look out for people like you, so please, don't hesitate to call or visit me should you find yourself in an unfortunate situation again . ❜

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She can feel every instance of ache, the way his muscles ripple and tighten with every single touch. Hallen doesn't go farther than she's allowed, she's never done that. He's always tight, on edge like he's waiting to fall off a cliff. Her fingers find a knot, gently kneading to try and get it to relax. She doesn't want to mention the way her heart decides to flutter a little faster, something that she's sure he can hear and feel with how he's settled against her neck.

They say nothing, the quiet something that they both value. So many days there's noise, there's duty, there's requests. The only thing that breaks the quiet is the sound of her breaths matching with his, shifting of fabric, and soft growls and chirps. With him, she feels safe, curled around him as her fingers urge the overcoat off shoulders to get to relieving pain underneath. The heaviness, the tension that practically surrounds her wings and could set the room on fire if it were ignited, she can feel it in her bones. It goes unsaid, unmentioned. If she speaks, she might break the spell, it might cause a conversation that she doesn't know how to answer. Or perhaps she does, but fears the worst. This feeling is one she would drown in, happily.

The weight becomes heavier, a soft little chirp as she keeps up her kneading. Ah, he's dozing. She can feel the way his chest rises and falls so steadily. He should get to the freezer, she knows that. If he's tired, he should sleep there. It would keep him from having back pain and keep the shadows at bay. But she doesn't want to move. Not with how settled she feels. "A-Ash, you should probably be in the freezer. I can deal with the cold if you want me to continue."

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⠀⠀⠀𖤝 ᭪⠀ * the words are muffled into some void in the already chilly air between them, lost to his tired ears as he just shifts his head to lean closer to Hallen's neck. Feeling her voice rather than hearing it, a sort of connection he felt deep in the marrow . there was always something about them, something dancing in the way they looked at each other, the way they spoke . it went beyond . they both knew that it did . but even now, the small bird held in the safety of LA MANCHA'S lap, powerful arms her cage, they still can't bring themselves to put words to their feelings .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * ❛ 's alright .. 'm not feelin' much pain right now . ❜ Ashveil couldn't deny the wash of warmth at her soft utterance of a shortened name . it only draws his heart nearer, & involuntarily, his prosthetic arm slips around her tighter : drags silver - tipped faux nails over her stomach, & the Ranger hasn't noticed the way his sealing nails vibrate within his wrist . hungry, & taking advantage of this tired, vulnerable moment of it's host .

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * he's not thinking, as his head tilts towards hers . he doesn't think as his lips brush idly against her shoulder, as he breathes her scent in deeply from her skin . ❛ i jus' wanna stay here for a little longer, sweetheart .. ❜

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ * ( @snaev . )

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