#d'asks

🔥What's the pettiest thing they've ever argued about?

To Nat and Ancano's credit, they rarely fall out, despite having different ways of doing almost everything. They're both far too old to expect the other to change.

They're quite selfish, but their wants often dovetail, rather than clashing.

That doesn't stop the bickering, however:

> "who had the logbook last", "did you pay a blind goblin to fix that", "that is entirely TOO MUCH FIRE, Nafarion 'cal Llarethiiath!*" ...and so on.

*Nat, on paper: Nafarion Yanniss Avys 'ata Coredalf Morymyrian-Natultare 'len Eldyme-Niraselya Korasephina 'cal Llarethiiath v'Sunhold

^ This is fine.

🛡️Who jumps in front of danger for the other without thinking?

These two don't say "I love you" very often.

The world they inhabit is full of political manoeuvring, and talk is cheap. But my favourite thing about them is the soft glances, the actions that speak truer than words, and this is one of those things, because they both do it, and often.

Nat in particular has expended social cachet in Ancano's defense — his clan are extremely powerful, while Ancano's is in disgrace — but he will defend his partner tooth and claw.

That said, even if they were not romantically involved they'd still do this to a degree, because loyalty and fraternité is part of the martial culture of their break-away faction — we can't separate my two from some real nutty zealotry, but the bond that such a niche and extreme ideology creates is adamant.

🧩What tiny habit of the other do they find unbearably adorable?

For Ancano it's a few things: Ntalym's lived everywhere bar Sunhold for a while, but every so often he'll use a really uncommon local word, and have to translate. Even worse when he follows up with something from buttfuck northern Auridon where he's been stationed for a decade. (Alinorians begging for mercy, or for preference, a dictionary).

Also Nat taking his severe ponytail down at the end of the day. He always has to fluff his hair out with a sigh and sort-of sit there with it all *floofed* like a lion's mane, before face-planting the nearest bedroll. He always chucks the leather string somewhere, and then acts surprised when he can't find it right away in the morning.

For Nat? I'd say Ancano's hands when he's writing — he does this thing where he brushes the parchment as though clearing invisible cobwebs before he begins; it's actually part of an anti-forgery spell, and Nat knows this (standard procedure) but for some reason the specific way Ancano does it is enthralling. He has very elegant fingers.

...That or the look he gets when a Cunning Plan has occurred to him — the eyes become extra-luminous and the air of smugness becomes palpable. You'll get rapid blinks and a nose-twitch, followed by the tiniest of smirks.

He also loves his alchemy; dates and labels everything in beautiful looping handwriting; organizes potion cabinets so you can actually see what's in them; and folds anything, even footwraps.

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THEY say:

[The boys are sat on chairs an arm's length apart]

Ancano: I think in the last seventy years I can count...maybe three times we've really...gone at it. (He glances at Nat)

Ntalym: Mm-hmm. (In agreement; his arms are crossed and he looks at the floor, a tiny frown between his eyes.)

A: I would say we are not petty folk.

...Ntalym?

N: Hm? (He shakes his head, eyes still on the floor)

A: What?

N: Oh, nothing. We don't argue, exactly. We... I get snappy and you get catty and do the-the... lip thing and roll your eyes, but "argue" is too strong.

You state your case and then leave well enough alone. I appreciate that.

A: (mock-serious) ..."The lip thing"?

N: (pouts)

A: (half-offended, half-amused)

--

Things you find endearing about the other?

A: (smiling faintly) before bed, when you take the tie out of your hair. And then you throw it somewhere and seem surprised when you can't find it again come daybreak.

N: (smiles ruefully)

A: It's amusing but sometimes very frustrating. (Sing-song) The Party is ready to leave and Captain Ntalym is hunting for a hair-tie. You should have three.

Nat: I DO have three! They keep growing legs—

Ancano: You keep throwing them—

Nat: when we're outside again after a skirmish, you always find a moment to kneel and face Auri-El. 🤲

A: I thank Him for our victory.

N: (kisses him)

A: ...You nuzzle into my neck when you're asleep :3

N: I do??

A: Oh, it's charming so long as you don't drool in my hair or huff in my ear(!)

^Exhibit A, Ladies and Gentlemer

N: (^///^) Speaking of hair. When you're doing alchemy, and that one strand keeps falling in front of your eyes? And you hitch your sleeves up just so (he mimes). You lean on the table while you're waiting, with that...thousand-mile stare? You look gorgeous, by the way, in such pose. I would commission a painting of you this way. (He strokes the other's face).

A: (suddenly grins mischieviously) You know when you're threatening somebody?

N: ..?

A: You exhibit a darling sneer and it's (he whispers) so very arousing?

N: (going red) I-I think we should end this interview here...?

^/////^

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(I'll try to Ask any RBers!) 💗

Next Ask ->

So, in the context of right now in their Heartfire-of-201 Skyrim deployment:

Ancano

My version of him is a silver fox who certainly pays attention to appearances.

Beyond staying clean and neat, he's un-fussy*, and has a motto of "a place for everything, and everything in its place," which saves a lot of time.

He fills the time waiting for others with some unostentatious piety (I hc some Justiciars carry prayer beads, for focus and such. Or maaaybe for holier-than-thou point-scoring ;3 )

*Er, for an Altmer of means, that is. Some locals might consider the pomade/buffed nails/moisturiser/perfect shave/eye-shadow/immaculate robes etc. a *tad* fussy, I suppose.

The "Advisor" title wasn't just a College affectation; rather a sideways shift into a diplomatic role from a paramilitary position.

He has long experience as a battlemage and will resort to violence if his magicka runs out. There is steel under the façade, and he can forgo luxury and be ready for a scrap if need be.

Another of his rules is to not interrupt people when they're underestimating him.

It's true he cares more for fashion than Ntalym does, but he's old enough to know what suits him, and doesn't *usually* spend long picking something out.

Not when an outift's already been made, that is.

When at the tailor's and choosing fabrics and linings and trims, however...

Ntalym

Nat has a shoulder injury he has to take care of, and often starts the day with it locked up, so there's a lot of pained 5am stretching going on. He's also been very ill, and takes longer to wake up properly.

He's the night-owl to Anca's early-bird.

(Ghostly curses aside, Skyrim's climate is a total shock after the ever-Spring of Firsthold, and things are not going well with him).

(^Newly arrived. LOVING the weather. 🥶😡)

Despite the devil-may-care attitude, he is quite as vain as Ancano, and spends no small amount of time on his (regime-approved) golden war-paint, and on putting his hair up just so.

I hc for some Altmer, the concept of time passing can be problematic, and secondary to "perfection". All of which is useful for long-term 4D mind-chess, but less so when something needs doing *NOW*...

He also loses track of where he puts things.

Back home, Clan Llarethiiath places heavy expectations on a second-eldest of the kinlord, and getting dressed to go socialise is a battle-tactic all on its own, so that can take a while, too, due to all the fancy layers and second-guessing.

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Ntalym is more likely to say in actual words how lovely his partner looks (mumbled, while pretending not to have been staring).

Ancano is less about spoken hype and more about touch and lustful looks — he's an open book when he wants to be, and will make it very clear when he approves of what he sees. 😏🫦

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Oh yeah, and they both have bladed weapons to maintain, but Captain Nat's see more direct action and need more maintenance.

Morvas: "That's a really stupid sword." N: "Isn't it just. Works on cheeky mercenaries, though."