#alderrick

The lovely @writerly-blonde tagged me for this and I absolutely love it.

Rules: Share a line/snippet where your characters are flirting, and then tag others!

So here, have something from before Alderon and Garrick even became a thing. 

“Why don’t you do that more often?”

The question caught him off-guard, and he met Garrick’s gaze, startled. “Sing?”

“Yeah.” Garrick grinned, though his heartbeat spiked and blood rushed to his cheeks. “You really seem to enjoy it. And you have talent. Why haven’t you before?”

“I promised I never would again.”

He regretted the words as soon as he spoke them. Garrick’s curious stare burned into him and he ducked his head, heart aching. He didn’t mean to break his silence; it just happened. Guilt crushed his throat. Even if Keenan approved, what did it mean to do so for Garrick when he’d never feel the same way Alderon felt about him?

“What a strange thing to promise,” Garrick said at last. He strummed the lute, a frown in place. “The world could always use a little more singing. As could the soul.”

Alderon smiled a little. It seemed like such a Garrick thing to say. “Maybe you are right. I just did not think I could bear to give the world my voice anymore.”

A hand found his own; an incredibly warm, gentle presence. Alderon wished he could explore the callouses on Garrick’s palm. “Well, I’m glad you decided otherwise.” He lingered a moment longer than Alderon expected, then pulled away. “But did you really have to show me up like that?”

Alderon laughed in surprise. “Me show you up?” He realized how affectionate the words sounded and shut his mouth quickly before he could say anything worse.

“My singing isn’t that great.”

"You do not hear it like I do.”

Garrick raised an eyebrow. “What, I don’t have super hearing like you so I can’t fully appreciate it?”

"No, I just do not think you understand how soulful your voice is.” Alright, so he said something worse.

“Soulful? Are you getting all poetic on me?”

Alderon scrunched up his face, which was difficult because a smile kept threatening to ruin the look. “Never mind, I take it back.”

“Wait no,” Garrick protested. He set down the lute and flopped onto his side by Alderon, adopting a pout. “I’m kidding. You can keep complimenting me.”

“No.”

“Why are you so grumpy? You know you want to.”

“I know no such thing.” He couldn’t help the smile that broke through as he looked away.

“Ha! I win.”

“At what?” Alderon said, miffed.

“I got the grumpy old man to smile,” Garrick replied with a grin.

“I compliment you and you insult me? Why do I bother?”

“Because I’m great and I think your voice is gorgeous?” Garrick sat up quickly, looking a little ruffled, but still smiling. “Point is, you should sing more. If you want.”

Alderon considered him, trying to think through the daze of the compliment. “Well, that is true.”

“What is?” Garrick teased. “That I’m great, or your voice is gorgeous?”

He ran a hand through his hair, face burning. “Never mind.”

"Not again! We have got to work on your complimenting skills.”

“Quiet, you. You need to keep practicing.” Alderon adopted a scowl, jerking his head toward the lute. Despite his gruff exterior, he felt like he was sitting on a cloud.

Look at this cover I made for @knightedwriter!

It recently got its title, so I made this in celebration because figuring out a title is super hard and deserves recognition.

Who am I kidding, the story in general deserves recognition. A moving, heartbreaking, entertaining story of a valiant knight who sacrifices himself by making a deal with a vampire. The romance part of it comes in much later, of course, but I adore their relationship so much that I can’t help but put it out in front.

5. Nicknames? Pet names? Any in-jokes?

Pet names you ask? Well, Garrick calls Alderon beautiful and variations thereof. Inside jokes consist of moody, sir bites-a-lot, and immortal ass.

Alderon doesn’t use pet names except in very special circumstances (ask me why, I dare you). The most common ones he uses are my knight and my heart. He doesn’t really do joke names, he just gives Garrick The Look(tm).

6. Any tasks that are always left to one person?

Alderon does the dishes. No particular reason, he’s just Like That. Garrick takes care of the animals (especially Dewberry), though they do start sharing responsibility for Hunter.

7. What annoys them the most about their partner? Would they change it if they could?

Garrick hates how slow Alderon is to take action; how every choice needs to be analyzed and every decision needs reason. Alderon does work on improving this, though in part, his tendency to take things slow balances Garrick’s tendency to jump headlong into things.

Alderon hates how little regard Garrick has for his own life. Garrick does work on this and improves a lot, even if it’s quite the struggle for him.

8. What do the like best about their partner?

For Alderon, that would be Garrick’s willingness to stand up for him and defend him. Before Garrick, nobody thought some big bad vampire would need or want protecting, but Alderon has always wanted someone to see him for more than just a monster.

Garrick loves Alderon’s quiet support. Once they settle some differences and problems in their relationship, the fact that Alderon always has Garrick’s back, but also believes in his strength and ability to fend for himself, is what solidified Garrick’s wish to spend the rest of his life with him. That, and he loves Alderon’s gentleness and hidden compassion.

9.Do they discuss big issues? Religion? Marriage? Children? Death?

I think they check all of those, actually. Religion isn’t the biggest conversation, but in terms of the Hunter religion and its reach, its still an important part of their relationship. They do discuss marriage; it’s a hard topic for Alderon, especially since he was already married once before.

Though the big children conversation never happens, they do end up unintentionally adopting kids and both kinda say to each other “well there’s no way we’re abandoning them, guess we’re just gonna keep em”.

Death, of course, is one of the main problems that the two struggle with. Alderon is immortal and Garrick is not. Garrick doesn’t want to be turned, Alderon fears he’ll be left alone once again. They’re both constantly racing against the clock, and it practically tears Alderon apart. Whether or not they’ll find a solution is something you’ll all find out when you read it ;)

Garrick: like what?

Alderon: stop it

Garrick: stop what???

Alderon, walking over to hug him: see what you've made me do?

Absolutely <3

“Ugh, it’s so cold,” Garrick hinted, rubbing his hands together as they walked through the streets. Actually, it was pretty cold. Snow fell from the heavy clouds overhead and his breath puffed out in little swirls of silver mist. There was already a solid carpet of white underfoot.

Despite all that, Garrick wasn’t particularly bothered. He liked the bite of the wind, and he was wearing enough layers to avoid freezing before they made it to their room at the inn. But Alderon didn’t need to know that.

“We’ll be there soon,” Alderon assured. He picked up his pace, leaving Garrick a little miffed as he hurried to match it.

“Hey, slow down,” Garrick said, catching hold of his wrist.

Alderon frowned over at him. “I thought you were cold.”

“Well yes but–” He made a helpless gesture and sighed. Of course the one time he tried to be subtle Alderon completely missed it.

“You have seen plenty of snow by now. You can watch it from the inn.”

“Never mind. Just forget about it.”

Garrick dragged his feet as they walked, wondering if he should’ve just said he wanted Alderon to–

Something warm wrapped around his shoulders and Garrick looked over at Alderon in surprise. Alderon took one of his hands, rubbing his thumb over his knuckles.

“Let’s share my coat, since you’re so cold,” Alderon murmured, wrapping the cloak a little tighter around the both of them. “That is what you wanted, correct?”

Garrick blushed. “So you did catch that.”

“You only pout when you have not gotten what you wanted.”

“Oh.”

Alderon cracked a smile that seemed to glow brighter than the snow. Garrick’s breath caught and he pushed forward to plant a warm kiss on the curve of those lips. His vampire smiled more and cradled his cheek.

When Garrick finally leaned back, he laughed at the dusting of white in Alderon’s hair. He reached up to wipe some off and grinned. “We must look ridiculous.”

Alderon mirrored his movement, running soothing hands through his hair. “It is a good look on you.” The smile was still there. “And I will gladly look ridiculous with you.”

11. Do they celebrate holidays? Anniversaries?

Until the writer develops holidays, that’s asoft no. But anniversaries, yes absolutely. They celebrate the day they firstkissed, and the day they left on their adventure. And of course, birthdays.Can’t not do so when you have a seven-year-old kid.

12. Is there a wedding? What was the proposal like? Any kind ofhoneymoon?

There is a wedding ;) The proposal was awkwardas fuck and Alderon definitely cries and struggles to work himself up to it(except both he and Garrick propose at the same time).

Definitely a honeymoon. They don’t go far, nordo they go anywhere special. Just a night under the stars by a still lake.Something soft and sweet and gentle to celebrate their union. They don’t needanything more.

23. How do they hug? Kiss? Tease? Flirt? Comfort?

Hugs are full body, head in necks, andoftentimes emotional. Alderon likes to press as close as possible so all hefeels, hears, and smells is Garrick.

Kisses vary from gentle and quiet,hands-on-faces affairs to deeply passionate and desperate on the lips and overthe body contact combined with a tight or needy grip.

Garrick teases most often, but it’s usually ina juvenile way (ie throwing snowballs at an unsuspecting target) to get Alderonto smile. Sexual teasing is more of like...praise? I’m p Alderon falls all overhimself for praise. That, and fluttering touches + v soft kisses. Alderon’steasing is subtler and rarer. He’s clumsy with the flirty stuff, but he doesoccasionally manage some savvy lines that get to Garrick. This all p much goesfor flirting in general, too. They are very sticky sweet and playful with eachother.

Both comfort via physical contact. Alderon isv touchy and needs to be held when he’s sad, and Garrick is (usually) fine whenAlderon does the same for him. Alderon is more of a listener and will sitquietly with Garrick and soothe him with soft words, whereas Garrick tends toreaffirm Alderon’s value and worth and offers plans of action.