#dragonkiddos

It had started with a hug and then, well.

"Kana?" He whispered. Rhys couldn't hope to lift Kana up and off of him, and it seemed like something bordering on a crime to wake him up. Classes and dinner were over, and the cathedral around them was so quiet, it was quite understandable...

It was a bad idea to do a great number of things with someone like Niles. Talk to him, for one. Associate with him. Accept any invitations. And, naturally, throw pinecones at his head.

As with anyone else—or at least, he certainly hopes so—Niles does not have eyes on the back of his head. He did fib once or twice during Halloween, tricking some of the younger members of the army into thinking he’d lost his eye because he’s moved it to the back of his skull, but he hadn’t been serious. Most of the time, it’s simply difficult to sneak up on him because he listens for footsteps, or breathing, or the crack of dirt grinding beneath a heel before an assailant leaps to attack.

Kana, though, he hears. The mistake comes not from surprise, then, but by ignorance; what he gets instead of a shout of his name or a tug on his sleeve is a pinecone, lobbed right at him without much care for the dangers it poses. (…Imagine that, though. Lord Leo’s retainer, lost to something like that.)

“Oh, thank you Kana!” Rhys carefully took the flower crown, admiring how the pristine flowers were woven together. The petals were so delicate and soft against his fingertips, it almost seemed reckless to put it on, but that was what it was meant for. He laid the circlet of flowers on his head as though it was as precious as gold, and looked back down at Kana with a smile.

“How kind of you, it must’ve taken you a long time! It’s beautiful. It matches my robes and everything.” Rhys knelt and pulled Kana in for a hug. Huh. He really did feel warmer than most people.

ToaLabyrinth2021 Valley Team Event Thread Starter for @dragon-kiddos

It was humble but important work being a healer. Rhys was often in the back of the party with a surveyor’s view of the battlefield, yet he was no tactician like Soren. He’d seen many conflicts and wartime marches, yet he was nowhere as hardy as Ike. He’d been through so much, yet at the end of it all he was a simple priest.

And that was alright. 

First thing first was fetching water and keeping everyone hydrated. Chances were, most of their group was ill adapted to such heat. At least doing something tedious for others would make up for his lack of fortitude and battle finesse. He’d brought a training bow, but it was hardly going to be useful in his hands. Rhys had a few water flasks and a cup of water in his arms as he bustled around, looking to who would need him most.

Ah. Their youngest. In another life, Rhys might’ve protested seeing someone so childlike in their numbers, but he understood, he understood with a weight in his chest that was too shapeless to define with words. He’d watched Mist and Rolf venture into the fray of battle when they had no other choice. For a moment, he missed them so terribly his throat burned from more than just charred air. His own bowknight in leather armor, his own faith student growing up so fast, his companions he’d taken to spending time with and watching over as though they were his own family... He pushed it all back down, focusing on who was in front of him. Rhys had to believe his friends were alright without him.

He had to do what he could for who was in front of him.

“Kana, right?” Rhys had gotten a gist of who was who in their company. He approached Kana and handed him the water cup, prepared to give him a flask too. “Here. The heat is difficult to soldier though, isn’t it? It’s important to keep your fluids up. Thirst is a lot more than just discomfort, so it’s vital to take care of yourself. I’m Rhys.” He smiled softly. “ I’m a healer, so if you get any kind of injury, it doesn’t matter how small, I’ll help. Just let me know if you need anything, alright? Are you feeling well?” He reached out with a free hand to touch Kana’s forehead. He had to wonder what all Kana had been through to be with them so young, what words would best encourage him. “You’re brave, coming out here with us.”

He hoped he sounded reassuring— not desperate to not lose someone on his own watch, or patronizing. The last thing he wanted to do was to cause Kana worry.... though the circumstances were unpleasant already. All his words rang with soft urgency and genuine care.

🍫  —  our muses making s’mores

|| 🍫 || ; Gloved hands weren't ideal for s'more-assembly. Brows furrowed in fierce concentration and tongue just barely poking out from his lips for added effect, Kana attempts to shimmy his marshmallow off of his skewer and betwixt two perfect graham crackers and a piece of chocolate. At the last second, his fingers slip and the treat goes tumbling down into the fire, eliciting a loud whine from the little dragon. With a sigh, grey eyes turn up towards the hero king. "Can you help me, Marth?"

               𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 elegant nook of his hand, amusement glittered not so secretly in the prince’s eyes; their joyful periwinkle depths crinkled at the corners. Spectating the plight of this exasperated young friend pleased Marth in some large and curious way. As if it was writ all over the boy’s expression, that his biggest troubles at the moment dawned only in the slip and slide of a sugary white treat onto the ground. This was naturally a far-cry from the caliber of youths he observed throughout the war on his native continent, with their gaunt little faces and dull, jaded gazes..

               It was nice to see innocence as a luxury still afforded to the young.

               “Always, Kana,” He responded, neither missing a beat nor a smile, and reaching forward to gently pluck the thin wooden skewer from Kana's fingers. An efficient air accompanied the jab of its point into a fluffy new marshmallow, before he hovered it over the sizzling tips of the campfire. “As is often the case for a great many things, the trick here is a steady hand and a sprinkle of patience.”

               Rolling the marshmallow over in timely intervals, boy and man alike observed as the pallid tone cooked into deeper tones, darkening crisply from white to brown at the fringes. “With that in mind, simply push it off like so-” With a nod of his head, Marth gestured for Kana to hold out his crackers and he carefully pushed the marshmallow down the rod until it slid onto the sandwich. He dabbed away the contact glaze of sugar on his fingers on his tongue and fondly patted the boy’s shoulder afterward. “Easy, right? Enjoy your treat. You’ll be able to eat many more of them if you learn to make them yourself. I'm sure they'd taste better, too!”

His own water gun in hand, Ewan stares back. A tumbleweed blows past. A breeze ruffles their hair. Unblinking, Ewan waits. Waits. Waits. Bides his time, same as Kana seems to be... but there can only be one. Honestly, he picked the wrong side for this duel of theirs - the sun’s glare in the water is distracting at best, near blinding at worst.

Finally, he yields.

Ewan rolled an 18...! Total hit!

Before he can even think to press the trigger, Kana’s on him like jam on toast, water spraying alllll over him. Half giggling and half protesting, Ewan protects his face, but soon enough even his protests devolve into a fit of laughter, tears beading at his eyes.

valentine's day asks.