#bitterseadrop

⟬ @bitterseadrop ⟭

❝ mammon, you absolute bastard. ❞

"Hey, if you're gonna bitch at me, try bein' a little more creative with your freakin' names!" He scrambled away from the door, knowing full-well that the sudden slam of it in the door would echo throughout the corridors and alert his brothers of his whereabouts.

While he dropped to the floor and wedged himself under her bed, all he could do was hope that she didn't rat him out. Judging by her tone and name calling, he really needed to hope.

the administrator maintains a nonchalant expression, letting it linger on his countenance as he regards the champion duelist. / arms cross over his chest as he attends to the sceptical question ; the doubt in the air makes him cringe internally. ( a reaction he keeps exclusively to himself. ) & so, an eyebrow raises, his cold gaze remaining steady.

❛ Clorinde, ❜ he begins, the tone on his tongue tranquil yet doubtlessly firm, ❛ you, better than anyone, should know your qualifications. There's no doubt in my mind that you could handle this. ❜ the duke pauses momentarily, turning on his heels & glancing around his office to recall where he last put his stash of tea samples. ⸻ the reaction to thoughts of recent events flash in his mind : quite the audible, heavy sigh. ❛ Ever since those kids tried to see what was inside the tunels and discover a way out of the fortress, ❜ he continues, voice presently taking on a slightly more profound sound, ❛ … that it seems that others are trying to follow in their footsteps. We need to find a way to stop this. ❜

& once his hands reach for what he's been aiming for, he retrieves the crate filled with tea samples. / thus, when his eyes meet Clorinde's, he hopes that the reveal a peace offering, being so both a send-up & a unpretentious present, conveys a sense of confidence that echoes the one he holds for her proficiency. ❛ You've proven yourself to me and all of Fontaine more than once, ❜ Wriothesley reiterates, ❛ Just continue doing what you do best. I know we'll find a solution to this together. ❜

“…Milou-senpai. For once, I am willingly siding with you.”

WHO PUTS MILK FIRST BEFORE CEREAL??!!

❝ yeah . . . wanted to get in contact sooner , but the new priorities got kinda crazy . ❞ ( it was weird , taking in the two kids his murderer happened to leave behind , but it wasn't as if satoru was going to punish the fellow victims of such misshapen , uncaring ideals . maybe he was just lucky that they weren't zen'in raised , or there'd be a whole new brand of hell to pay . ) still , it wasn't an excuse for him to shirk his duties as a sorcerer , and that included looking into exactly what happened with his closest confidant and the damages he wrought . among other things . ❝ . . . sorry about your . . . family matters . ❞ / @bitterseadrop .

milou shamelessly enabling ran in whatever the hell he does because chaos fun 👍

@bitterseadrop

The White Fang was settling down after yet another successful mission. Ilya would ask Zarina (no, begging is a better word) to take over the cooking duties from Leon, who so kindly offered to make his infamous stew. The dinner preparations were going smoothly. Alas, she heard Milou make fun of their leader once again, joined by Saine, who seemed to learn quite a lot from both of them as they traveled together. Even if it meant going playfully against his brother, making him let out offended huffs and saying that they were just exaggerating. A sensitive lot, he called them, pouting and looking away as Saine and Milou would almost choke on laughter. It was another sunny day with a warm evening and a cool night. 

As Hawke continued to prepare the stew, she heard the talking happening in the common room. It seemed the four of the White Fang members were discussing something. Zarina stepped closer to listen in, not daring to make a noise as she was curious to hear what was happening. The conversation circled around the topic of family, discussing flashbacks where some familiar memories were touched. It was a delight to see Milou getting along just as well with others as she did with her. As an older sister, the silver-haired woman could only smile at how much brighter her younger sister’s voice was. There was a newfound sunlight, a new fire, a new brightness. As she leaned against the wall, arms loosely crossed under her chest, Zarina smiled at everyone’s happy voices. 

-We’re family. We don’t turn our backs on each other. 

How sweet. Did the two of them finally find a place they could call home? A place where they don’t need to run away from. Even if Sister - Mireil - catches up with 

A second of silence would follow those words, only to explode in happy and energetic agreements. Hawke could hear Leon move to bear-hug all his companions and laugh happily, followed by everyone’s singing laughter. Zarina chuckled softly, but not before hearing everyone call for her name. They also seemed to want to share their unbridled joy with her. Golden eyes shined with a soft tenderness as she checked the stew's condition before heading to the main room where everyone was. 

Milou’s eyes gleamed brightly. Her smile reminded Zarina of those early days when the four of them (Milou, Zarina, Elias, and Mireil) would sit together and sing songs. Then, they were a family. A shaking one, a trembling one, but a family. It was heartbreaking when it all had gone awry, losing one to betrayal and losing the other to death. Hawke knew that she couldn’t give her sister everything she wanted or deserved. They had their own lives, and there would be a day when Milou would be walking her own path. Without her older sister. Life was never sweet to them. 

But for now… 

Let her enjoy this moment of closeness. Let her enjoy Milou’s happiness and watch White Fang’s smiling faces. 

Zarina, too, was a selfish older sister. The death of Eli continued to weigh heavily on her, but seeing Milou’s smiling face when everyone was waving at her? The silverette felt a subtle warmth in her chest. 

Hey, Eli, she thinks to herself. Milou’s growing up so fast. Do you remember how timid she was? Now she’s such a troublemaker. 

Zarina chuckled when she saw Ilya approaching her first, taking the ungloved hand and leading the fellow silver-haired maiden to their gathering. 

“Now, now. What got you all so excited?” Her voice remained much lower yet still had that melodic tone as she asked everyone despite knowing the answer. 

“We’re a family, right, Zarina?” Leon suddenly asked, a cheeky smile on his sun-kissed face. Saine looked at her with hope, and Ilya stood beside Milou, all smiles.

“Naturally,” Hawke answers without missing a beat. “If we were not, I would’ve fed everyone your stew instead of making another one when you were not looking.” 

Aghast, Leon stared in shock at his comrades before looking at Zarina. He certainly looked like she betrayed him at that moment. 

“I knew it was suspicious!” 

“We owe you our stomachs, Zarina.” 

“Hey! It wasn’t that bad!”

“I think you created a new alchemical recipe, Leon. Color me impressed.”