#aethertine

Toaball2022 starter for @aethertine

They were at a ball, so Soren figured they ought to dance at least once. He’d been to a couple balls, but he wouldn’t try and coax Ike to do this or that. If Ike hated dancing, well... they could do whatever they wanted, as long as they were together.

Maybe that was selfish. However, with how close they’d been, Soren doubted Ike minded.

“May I have this dance?” The orchestra changed to a slow tune, one that was easy to meander and dance to while chatting. Even when dressed up, Ike still looked a bit out of place in a ballroom. Or maybe, it was everything else that was out of place, and Ike was perfect as he was.

Soren got close to Ike and put his hand on Ike’s shoulder, other hand free for Ike to hold. With some irritation, he realized Ike would have a perfect vantage point to see any remaining glitter left in his hair from his photo with the cat ears, but it was too late to fix that.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Soren’s eyes flickered to the boutonniere he’d given Ike that matched his own. Flowers weren’t either of their fashions either. There were so many things about the ball that didn’t suit them, but it was worth it to Soren, at least. Soren got the urge to lean close to Ike and just rest against him and tune out the rest of the world, but he wasn’t able to stand the idea of Seteth appearing and demanding they be so many inches apart on the dance floor.

Especially not in front of his uncle.

starter for @aethertine

It was not often that Kurth found himself strolling through the monastery grounds, with how much work had piled up on his desk despite his short time teaching at the academy, but on a day as nice as this, it would be a shame to be stuck inside when he could get a breath of fresh air. He didn’t come here all the way from Goldoa to be cooped up in a single room yet again. He might as well get his freedom since he was already so far from Tellius. It was there, in the slightly maze-like gardens, that he saw him. Ike... he hoped that he would not be the first one to greet him. He would hate to take that chance away from Soren, knowing how much the mercenary meant to his dear nephew. He stood back for a moment, observing the beorc. He wore no student uniform; therefore, he must have been faculty. Ah, so that made the two of them coworkers. How interesting. Though Kurth would not peg him as a teacher, perhaps he was a knight. Indeed, that would make the most sense given his previous path in life. Surely it would not hurt to just say hello; right? Kurthnaga sighed, walking over to his friend.

“Greetings Ike, quite wonderful to see you. I feared for the worst when I saw Soren without you, I am glad you are well.” He smiled up at the larger man, always somewhat alarmed by how tall Ike was despite his youth. Though, he was much more used to the alarming height difference with Ike, compared to the other beorcs who towered over him in his daily life.

Continued from here with @aethertine

Ike had been minded his own business at the monastery, just trying to ascertain the workings of the area and get himself grounded. This day, in particular, he was out on some nonsensical errand. Not that it really mattered to him. He squinted harder. He still didn’t quite know the layout of the monastery grounds.

A familiar voice - an all too familiar one - called his name, and he spun around without even thinking about it. Soren. It could have only been one person, but he was nonetheless surprised to see him at the academy and needed a visual confirmation. Why was Soren here? Ike tried to think back on when they split paths.

He was at the least glad Soren seemed well. That was well worth being thankful for. Soren was family to him and he’d do anything for that. Was he really all right, though? Ike had a  seemingly infinite amount of questions, yet not wanting to overwhelm the other man. At the least, an intense urge to give him a tight hug burned down into his fingertips. Patience.

“Thanks,” Ike responded. “ Yea, I’m a knight here. I take it that you’re a student?” He wasn’t surprised that Soren had worries about his mixed blood but it still irked him. Soren should have all the freedom he desired. Worries about things like that….well other people really needed to mind their own damn business.

Ike allowed a small smile to lilt his lips at Soren’s words. After all they had been through, Soren would still try to be distant, huh? He wasn’t going to have any of that. He reached out and pulled the other in his arms.

“Hey, Soren. It’s me. Don’t be so distant.”

“I am.” Soren nodded, heart pounding with excitement, joy even. His emotions were always the hardest to sort when they were the strongest. There was still so much he longed to say, but the mundane came out easier, as though he was back home giving a report. “My abilities have improved considerably. I’ve become... a bit more well balanced, I think.” Ike would best him in any fair sword fight, but after a year of training Soren was finally not a complete notice.

Ike was never one for an abundance of words. He hugged Soren, and the awkward bit of distance Soren had between them from so much time apart dissolved.

The books fell out of Soren’s arms with a cascading bang! against the floor and he threw his arms around Ike immediately, eyes wide with overwheming relief, like he didn’t want to let Ike out of his sight no matter how briefly.

This was a feeling he understood.

Home.

Soren rested against Ike’s chest, marveling at how he felt exactly the same as the last time they’d embraced. Ike didn’t have much competition as far as hug givers went in Soren’s life, but Soren suspected there was still no one better.

“I don’t want any distance, not with you,” he murmured. Soren squeezed him a bit tighter, unable to fight the smile off of his face, so he stopped trying.

Hic Sunt Dracones - or, in layman’s terms: Here Be Dragons. But where the warning inscribed on the monument at the center of town typically indicates dangerous or unexplored territories, it would appear in this case to prove literal. The creature swoops into town, spewing foul breath and roaring defiance. The Knight steps forth were weapons can be brought to bear, pleading for the townspeople not to hurt it. But will you listen, or stand your ground? Either way, whether you defeat it, drive it out, or something else entirely, you find yourself at the beginning of the story all over again… [Grants Any Weapon +1]

It had been a few days since Byleth had arrived in this town and to be honest, the former Mercenary was bored. The only interesting thing she’d come across so far was an inscription in the central square warning of Dragons. Byleth was disinclined to believe it as she’d yet to see anything in this sleepy town close to danger. 

She was resting in said square, when suddenly there was a roar in the vicinity. Looking up, there was a ginormous Black dragon swooping down, it’s wings brushing the chimney tops. Evil looking dark smoke clouded its mouth from view, cold steely eyes surveying those watching below. 

ROOOOAAAR!

Immediately the townsfolk were thrown into a panic. A literal knight in shining armour stepped forwards and Byleth wondered if they were going to fight the dragon, like in a fairy tale. This was however a let down as all they did was brandish a series of weapons, yelling about a sudden sale in arms. So much for his help.

Stepping forward, Byleth withdrew her sword. Someone needed to deal with this, might as well be her. As she did so, she noticed a blue-haired man do similar. “Are you going to help?” She asked. “These people don’t appear to have a clue what to do”

It'd been a long time since he'd seen the wolf laguz. Ike was rather pleased. Volug had always been good company, despite saying little - perhaps because of it. He made his way out towards him after spotting him on the dance floor.

"Still the same as ever, huh, Volug?" Ike greeted him. He looked quite dapper. Impressive. But Ike's mission was not yet fulfilled.

"It must be difficult to be popular tonight despite saying so little," Ike commented after a brief moment. Though, he had no way to tell if that was Volug's goal or if he simply wanted to attend the Hatari queen's side. Cracking a smile, he looked back at the wolf and wondered if his words had made their effect.

He rarely ever teased others. Ike's creed was to treat all with respect and dignity. But this was a chance that was difficult to pass. Beyond that, he sensed a potential kinship with Volug that he hoped to grow.

Ah, now there's the other blue-haired beorc he knows. Volug breaks into a grin, flashing his fangs in time with the flashing of the photo.

"Being so charming...is my burden."

It's a joke, of course. Generally, when he finds himself surrounded, it means something has gone terribly wrong. That, or people need something from Nailah and are too intimidated to ask her directly. He suspects that the initial surprise of seeing him here will wear off sooner rather than later. Volug is better suited to trailing after people silently rather than mingling among the group. It's why he applied as a knight rather than a student, after all. "Practicing," he says, in reference to a deal they made in the past. "Better at speaking now...Ike."

As Marth was all too quickly and thoughtfully to find, not all the merry patrons who shared with him this ballroom enjoyed a strong foundation in dance - and not all of them were quite so merry, either. His eyes alighted with bright tones of amusement, capturing within them the image of an endearing dancer winning tops mark not in grace but the simple effect of trying. Those that could not match the Archanean king in his fluency struggled valiantly to follow his directive and here was another on that course!

“I presume your experience in the realm of dance is less than the sword?” A conversational question arose over the babel of music and voices, emanating humor at the obvious conclusion reached by virtue of plain sight but also an openness that lacked judgement. At the implication of a costly blunder - leaden steps tromping mere slivers away from his own - Marth calmly switched his feet to avoid collision.

Observation yielded many a martyr to the grueling emulation of his kingdom’s court dance. The unpredictable patterns and rotating footwork would give pause to even the most experienced of dancers; so much so that the dance had become a test of ability for those who desired the rights to its conquest. It went unsaid that a newcomer trying his hand at this near impossibly placed sword-in-the-stone was deserving of admiration well on its own.

as Ike pulls Soren close, it's all he can do to not hold him in a tight hug. the orchestra music blares on but Ike is distracted by the site of his boyfriend. indeed, he is dazzling, exquisite, even. it's all ike can do to not monopolize him for the evening. but this is a ball, yes? and Soren wished to attend. so he pulls him close and allows their bodies to sway to the music. Ike leans towards Soren's ear in a hushed whisper. "Soren, I'd keep you all for myself if I could, but I want everyone to see how beautiful you are." He pauses. "Really, Soren, you take my breath away."

Ike presses a firm kiss to Soren's cheek. More, he only wanted more. But here was not the place.

Soren could cuddle Ike all day and all night. His eyes slid half closed and he let Ike hold him as they slowly revolved together.  All that really mattered at the ball was Ike and he let the rest of the world fall away.

He was happy exactly where he was, in Ike’s arms. He didn’t care how the rest of the night went.

Ike’s whispered breath in his ear made Soren’s ears turn pink. He wouldn’t care about appearances, but since Ike said it. “I wouldn’t mind if you kept me all to yourself.” He managed to sneak a kiss on Ike’s cheek as well, eyes lingering on Ike’s jawline and neck, imagining getting to kiss him even more. He didn’t, but he also didn’t care who saw or what judgements they made if anyone noticed them together. No one had anything to say that could whittle down Soren’s love for Ike. Nothing, not years of isolation or the pressure of all of Tellius’s society could keep him and Ike apart, and certainly no random Fodlan noble would do it either.

“Hmm, you’re quite handsome yourself.” Soren’s eyes flicked up to Ike’s face with a hint of playfulness in them. “I can’t get jealous of you because everyone who admires you just has common sense.”

Part of him wanted to invite Ike back to his quarters later.

Soren didn't think he'd ever have a ranking in his head as to who was best at lifting him up, but Ike was at the top. He let Ike carefully raise him up, sturdy arms holding Soren up and slightly against Ike's chest. Ike certainly didn't need to show off for Soren to be aware of his capabilities. Still, Soren let him, getting used to the idea that touch was a large part of their shared affection.

And speaking of touch-

Ike snuck in a kiss on his cheek right as the camera went off.

"Oh?" Soren couldn't control his expression, a small smile blooming out of nowhere on his face. Of course, it would be easier for Ike to get a kiss in with Soren held higher in the air. Once his feet were back on the ground he looked at the reel of photos, surprised at what he saw. It really was a cute photo, like they were any other young couple at the ball. Soren could hardly believe that he felt like he was truly a part of something, taking place in a social event and with a partner at his side not as observer, but a piece that blended into the crowd.

It was like they were supposed to be there. It was the first photo that had not just the vague suggestion of, but an actual smile on it from Soren.

The photo-artifax had also caught the start of a light blush on his face, too. "I see I couldn't quite stay cool and aloof when being kissed by you," he commented, handing Ike his own set of photos.