#devotedscarletknight

@devotedscarletknight

For Hector, the best part of the morning wasn’t being able to see the way that the sunlight reflected off the clouds, creating a beautiful display of colors. His favorite part of the morning was being able to wake up next to Eliwood, who was always curled up in his arms. He looked around at their roost, taking in all the knickknacks and other treasures that he had collected on his journeys away from the nest, and smiled to himself before he gently ran his fingers through his partner’s hair. While he was doing that, his giant hawk wings shifted slightly, moving a little in order to make sure that his wings didn’t get stiff from being curled around the two of them all night. 

He rarely ever woke up before Eliwood, always preferring to sleep in instead of waking up the second that the sun started to rise. It was moments like these, with Eliwood asleep in his arms, enjoying the peace of the morning, that he treasured the most. He pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before letting his eyes wander, drinking in the natural beauty that his partner possessed. There wasn’t a single thing that he would change about him, even though he knew that many other’s wouldn’t agree with him. His eyes lingered on his wings, fighting back the urge to run his hand over the small wings that weren’t big enough to carry the other man’s weight.

He had never minded that the other wasn’t able to fly, it wasn’t something that was a problem for him. He thought that Eliwood’s small wings were perfect for him, they just seemed fitting for the type of man that he was. He didn’t think that he would look right at all if he had his massive and powerful hawk wings. He knew that being unable to fly had given Eliwood some challenges that he had to overcome, but Hector was always dedicated to ensuring that he was able to live a fulfilled life no matter what. 

In the small town of Za’ha, the night carried its own dangers. It was a town that was nearly totally surrounded by woods, and the woods themselves encroached on the territory of men. That included animals, too. Mostly, just raccoons or foxes digging through garbage or deer munching on garden greens. However, rumor has it that something more sinister lurks in those woods.

A rumor. Certainly they weren’t true, right?

That was the assumption that everyone in Za’ha operated by, but many carried firearms just in case. That included one young priest in the chapel that was the centre of the town and served as its town hall. He carried a revolver, loaded with silver bullets, and a vial of holy water in his pocket. He was often called to homes to bless them and to ward away evil, which he did without being paid for it. It was his duty, after all. That, and he was given all the money he needed for his sundries from his superiors.

On the night of the full moon, he was called to a home for a blessing. Oddly enough, there was screaming and the phone cut off. He grabbed his supplies and hurried for the home. On his way there, he spotted a black cat standing on the porch of the home. He leaned down to pet it.

That was a mistake.

The creature lunged at his face and dug in with its claws and fangs. When it was sprinkled with holy water, it hissed and spit as fumes rose from its body. But, it still didn’t let go. There was one more option - the gun. 

// Starter for @devotedscarletknight!

It was the same as always; another skirmish near the border. The battles had been so frequent, so unrelenting, that even Forsyth was starting to feel exhausted. The latest was particularly bloody, and the knights entered the town with solemn face, trying not to catch the damning eyes of the villagers as they passed by.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, blowing in from former Rigel. In the square, a lone bard played his lute with conviction, his voice rhythmic and low.

O Mother! Your children toil in sorrow, Gone is the touch of your gentle hand. Where now are the bounties of the earth? A land united, but no united land.

He noticed how the knights hung their heads, and he knew why; Valentia was a singular kingdom in name, but in reality, the nation was just as divided as ever. But it will take time, Forsyth told himself. With time, there shall be peace. The thought kept him going.

It was a few days’ march from the capital, and Sir Clive had ordered that the horses were to be fed and watered. This gave him a welcome respite for a moment; it took him little time to find a stone bench, worn and weathered with age. He checked himself over. His back ached – he’d stumbled over in the rain – and he’d taken a nasty hit to his upper arm that was fast beginning to bruise. Paltry injuries, but he would be glad to see them heal.

@devotedscarletknight continued from here [x]

The stark display of fear and confusion was met by Limstella’s unwavering impassivity, arm still extended in offering. They recognized the expression though - they had seen it on the young lord’s face many a time during the war. And on countless others in the moments before Limstella had pulled the life out of them. But they carried no weapon now, and even if they desired to, could not take Eliwood’s quintessence while he stood at full strength. The fear was irrational.

But then again, that was the nature of emotion.

Limstella returned the ring to their finger. A gift would not work here, it seemed.

“Do you wonder how I stand before you now?” A pause, during which Limstella did not break eye contact, searching for some sort of answer in the man’s eyes, in his face, but all they could find was pain. “I fear that I cannot provide an answer for you. Lord Nergal informed me that I would either be destroyed by your blade, or by his great magic, and yet I continue to exist. It is the first I have ever known my master to be wrong…”

Then they found it, something they recognized, albeit faint and distorted.

Something you’ve always wondered about

“I think about Cormag, a man who falsely believed that I had murdered his brother in cold blood. When he realized that the true murderer was a Gradoan general, he became my ally, but in my nightmares I wonder…”

She cannot finish the sentence. Ephraim is the most important person in her life, but she is unsure if she would become vengeful if he were taken from her.

Even the Demon King did not become an object of her wrath in the end. 

@devotedscarletknight

Odin had been wanting to plan out a double date for a long while. He knew Laslow had agreed to this sort of thing as well, they just needed to find another couple to go with. He remembered hearing around castle Askr that Marquess Eliwood and Marquess Hector were seeing each other. He figured he could at least ask Eliwood about it.

Approaching the Lord was no big deal for Odin, he knew Eliwood to be a kind and courteous man. He probably wouldn’t say no, but he tapped the man on the shoulder and spoke calmly for once in his life, “Marquess Eliwood, my date and I would be honored if you and Marquess Hector would want to go out to a local tavern that we fancy. Like a double date of sorts.”