heyyy baby tysm for the prompt 🥹 i hope it’s alright i went with this one before your first prompt 🫶🏼🤧

-

In the second week of the Veretian royal family’s visit, Egeria is enjoying a rare moment of peace by herself in the library when the sound of someone clearing their throat distracts her. Suppressing a sigh, she averts her eyes from her book with a forced little smile which quickly turns genuine once she sees who’s in front of her.

Little Laurent looks both relieved and strangely nervous to see her. “Hello, madam,” he says in a halting Akielon. “I— me— me wants to— no,” he switches to Veretian with an unhappy frown on his face. “That can’t be right…”

Egeria quickly decides to put him out of his misery and speaks in Veretian. “Hello, lovely fawn,” she says fondly. “Not that I’m not delighted to see you but what brings you to the library? I thought you went swimming with your brother and my Damen.”

Laurent’s tight shoulders loosen considerably as he smiles back at Egeria. He really is a darling child: sweet, respectful, kind and smart. If it wasn’t heartbreakingly improper, Egeria would pinch his cheeks every time their paths crossed.

“I was, my queen. But I decided to leave them to their shenanigans,” the boy says, as if he’s the older one between the three of them. “and study for a while to improve my Akielon. I need to become fluent.”

Egeria is getting ready to say “That’s great.” when Laurent hurriedly continues, as if forcing himself to get the words out. “Since I will marry Damianos in the future.”

Egeria blinks.

She’s not proud to admit it, but her first instinct is to laugh. Luckily, she immediately realizes just how devastating this reaction would be for a ten-year-old who just bravely declared his intention to marry her son and manages to rein herself in. Laurent’s face is already tomato red anyway.

“Is that so?” she asks rather kindly.

Laurent nods slowly and seriously. “I don’t want anyone else but Damen.” he says stubbornly. “I’ve made up my mind. He’s the best man in the world.” A pause, and then he nervously rubs the back of his neck. “Maybe don’t tell Auguste I just said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Egeria nods back solemnly. Looking back, she thinks she should’ve guessed it actually. Counting off the first day the family arrived at Ios where Laurent spent the evening silently gazing at Damen with eyes like marbles, he spent nearly all of his time being stuck to her son. Anyone who was even slightly worse tempered than Damen would feel suffocated by his constant presence, but her boy welcomed this clinginess with dimpled smiles and gentle words.

No wonder the little prince was besotted.

“Well, dearest Laurent, I wish you the best of luck in this noble quest. I’m certain you’ll emerge victorious in no time.”

Laurent stares at the ground and mumbles something.

Egeria huffs a laugh. “I’m afraid you’ll have to speak up, sweet boy.”

“I was wondering,” Laurent starts, barely louder. His limpid blue eyes are pleading when he lifts his head. “if you could help me start.”

YOU ARE SO SWEET TO ME!!! SO SO SO SWEET!!!! 🥹🥹❤️❤️ i hope this is close enough 🥺

-

“I’m thinking yellow for my new dress. Butter yellow, to be exact. I think it would go well with my skin, yes?”

“Everything goes well with your skin, my dear.” Egeria says fondly. Perhaps her comment is a bit vain considering Sibylla looks nearly identical to her youth but it’s not like there’s any dishonesty in her words. She is a gorgeous girl.

Sibylla gives her a radiant smile. “Thank you, auntie. I believe—“

“Are sports so critical in this country?”

Sibylla jumps a little in her seat. Egeria, used to Laurent appearing out of thin air with the most bizarre sentences in Akielon, remains unfazed.

Laurent notices Egeria isn’t alone and a bashful look settles on his face. Still, he gives Sibylla a small smile. “Hello, Lady Sib. How are you doing?”

“Perfectly, my prince, but I’m afraid I’m seeing my mother summoning me.” Sibylla says smoothly, quickly getting up on her feet. “If you’ll excuse me…”

Laurent doesn’t dwell on Sibylla’s departure at all and immediately retakes her place in front of Egeria, giving her an impatient look.

Egeria suppresses a grin. “Yes, sports are very important in Akielon.”

“That explains much,” Laurent mumbles and his eyes, now looking a little hurt, shift to somewhere. Egeria follows his gaze and thinks, ah.

Damen is in the middle of an animated conversation with a gladiator, often touching the other man’s arm and wearing a huge smile that displays his dimple permanently on his face. If Egeria knows her son even a little bit, there’s a high chance he will leave the banquet tonight with that gladiator on his arm.

No wonder poor Laurent is so distraught.

“They’ve been talking forever,” Laurent says resentfully. It’s always quite entertaining to witness him speak Akielon; not only because of his cute accent, but also because of the way he just says things so bluntly. When speaking his own native language, Laurent often chooses to use insinuations instead of telling what he actually means, but he doesn’t seem to have the same filter in Akielon. Egeria is impressed how much progress he’s made in just five years. “What makes him so special? Because he can fight?”

“Damianos does like wrestling a lot,” Egeria says mildly. “Among other sports.”

Laurent’s shoulders slump. “But I don’t know anything about sports,” he admits softly. “Besides riding. My queen, do you think I should learn how to fight?” His eyes widen in panic all of a sudden. “Do you think Damen finds me boring!?”

This, quite literally, can’t be further from the truth. Damen often boasts about how Laurent is so much smarter and better than most people he knows despite only being fifteen. Egeria knows it will take years before her son looks at Laurent in a different way but for now, he truly considers Laurent as one of his dearest friends.

Besides, Damen is not capable of faking a friendship with someone he finds boring. He’s a polite boy, but he’s not that polite.

“Damen doesn’t find you boring at all.” she says with absolute certainty. “As for learning how to fight: is it something that interests you?”

Laurent squirms a little in his seat. “Not really.”

“Then there you have it,” Egeria says softly. “It would sadden me greatly if you took up a hobby that doesn't appeal to you at all just to attract Damen’s attention, Laurent. We love you the way you are.”

Laurent nods slowly with his flaming face.

“There you are!”

Egeria does jump this time, but only because Damen has this uncanny ability to sneak up on her despite his general largeness. She sends him a glare but Damen is grinning already, eyes trained on his friend. “Alright, Laurent?”

“No, not alright,” Laurent immediately says with a scowl. “That was way longer than a minute, Damianos.”

Damen’s grin disappears in an instant. “Excuse me?”

“You said you were going to talk to your friend for a minute,” Laurent says hotly. “And then you completely abandoned me.” He trains his eyes on the ground and Egeria is positive his chagrin is almost entirely genuine. “You know I don’t do well in crowds.”

It’s comical how fast Damen unravels. Egeria watches in amusement as her son kneels in front of Laurent’s chair (causing the boy to turn beetroot red again) and take his hands into his own. “You are right,” he says earnestly. “I should’ve kept you company. Can I earn your forgiveness if I stay by your side for the remainder of the night?”

Laurent rapidly blinks at him for a while, eyes wandering between their joined hands and Damen’s remorseful face. “Yes,” he finally declares loudly. “Yes, that would be the most appropriate.”

Damen’s smile is quick to return to his face as he helps Laurent to his feet. Before they walk away, Laurent turns and gives her an exciting smile.

ANYTHING FOR U LOVELY QUEL!! tysm for always blessing this fandom with your elegant and vibrant art 😍🫶🏼

theoleron, nsfw mention 😳

-

It’s not as extravagant and gaudy as it could be, Theomedes has to admit. Not that there isn’t any flashiness; no, that would be an impossible thing. This is a Veretian wedding after all, but it’s clear they made a conscious effort to keep it at minimum for the sake of Akielon modesty.

No one is paying much attention to their surroundings anyway, not when the grooms are radiating such a brightness that demands the attention of everyone in their orbit.

Damen has always been a joyful boy. Always. But even Theomedes can easily admit this sort of bliss is newfound for his son and it results in him looking lighter and happier than he’s ever looked before. Even his usually sharp tongued lover (Husband now, he thinks a little petulantly) is looking mellow and calm.

He feels someone inserting themselves into his space and even without having to turn his head, he knows who it is.

“Well,” Aleron says lightly. “Everyone seems to enjoying themselves. I’m glad I gave you no reason to complain.”

Theomedes sips his wine and tries to swallow the unfamiliar bitter taste without grimacing. “Who says I was going to complain?”

“One can never be sure, Exalted. You have high standards. I’d hate to cause you any displeasure.”

“Why, dearest Aleron,” Theomedes says, finally meeting the other man’s gaze. “When have you ever caused me anything but the highest form of pleasure?”

Under his beard, the man’s face is quick to pinken.

It is the alcohol, Theomedes thinks. Otherwise Aleron would never, ever indulge in something as scandalous as flirtation with the Akielon king.

It has been two decades since they first met. Although the peace between their nations had been restored during their grandfathers’ reign, the relations between Akielos and Vere were still delicate. That summer, Aleron was freshly twenty whilst Theomedes was twenty and four. The Veretian prince was clearly unhappy about visiting Ios in July because he often complained about the unbearable heat—thinking no one could understand Veretian. And he always had less than favorable words whenever he complained.

Theomedes, being reprimanded by his father to be nice to their guests, endured these harsh words for quite some time before running out of patience one day. Aleron was going on and on to his companions as usual when Theomedes turned to Konstantin and said, audibly, “Look at this delicate mouse. Can’t even stand to a little bit of sun.”

Aleron got over the shock of learning Theomedes spoke Veretian this whole time rather quickly and objected angrily. “I’m not delicate!”

Theomedes’ smile was sharp and unwelcoming. “Prove it.”

He isn’t lying when he says he doesn’t remember the exact events following this incident but the next thing he knew, he began fucking the Veretian prince.

They fucked a lot. A lot.

Away from prying eyes; Theomedes would bend Aleron over a fountain, or picking him up and leaning him against a wall so he could fuck him deeper, or pulling him on his lap as the prince rode him mercilessly whilst he himself laid on his back… For the remainder of the visit, the nights where they were intimate were significantly more than the nights they were not.

“This is humiliating,” Aleron would whisper shakily sometimes even as he clung to Theomedes. “I am the crown prince!”

Theomedes would just reward him with another thrust that caused the other man to tighten around him. “And you are taking cock like one.”

However, their passionate dalliance only lasted one summer. The next time they saw each other, Aleron was nothing but politely aloof towards him and Theomedes had no intention to pursue someone who clearly wasn’t interested.

Aleron got engaged to the beautiful princess Hennike next summer and Theomedes, being the gentleman he is, has never brought up the subject again. He didn’t even think they’d see much of each other anymore.

Until their sons fell in love.

Much like every time Aleron becomes tipsy and gets the courage to make an innuendo about that summer, Theomedes silently stares at him. And much like every time, Aleron averts his eyes first.

“As I said,” he says a little hoarsely. “I don’t want you to complain.”

Egeria survives childbirth and is alive when Kastor stabs Damen the first time. It changes a few things.

baby damenik? baby damenik! 🥺

-

“You’re going to drop it,” Nikandros says for what feels like the millionth time and just like every other time, Damen just waves him off.

“No, I won’t.”

Nikandros usually doesn’t like to repeat himself. In his opinion, if he says something once and the person he’s speaking to doesn’t listen to him, then that person is an irredeemable fool and therefore not worthy of his time anymore. His mother, unfairly, doesn’t like this habit of Nikandros. You keep losing friends because of your foul temper Niko, she often says with a weary face. You are only ten. You can afford to be a lot less strict with people.

His father, thankfully, appreciates his wisdom. Give him a break, he always answers her complaints with a pat to Nikandros’ back. Our boy has principles.

Yet, all of Nikandros’ principles crumble when it comes to Damen.

It isn’t that Damen is obnoxious or never listens to Nikandros. (Though, even if he indeed never listened, Nikandros would cut his arm off rather than stop being friends with him. He can freely admit that in his head.) But Damen is awfully prone to mischievousness and Nikandros, as his best friend, more often than not gets into trouble alongside him.

Damen isn’t being naughty at the moment though. He’s just being incredibly silly.

“Damen,” he starts again, very patiently. His mother should give him more credit, really! “The rocks are slippery. You’ll drop your candied fruit stick to the water and then weep like a baby.”

Damen rolls his eyes at him before, very maturely, sticks his tongue out. “I never weep like a baby.”

He isn’t lying at all. (Not that Damen ever lies.) He is probably the toughest eight year old Nikandros has ever seen. He was right there when, one day, Damen’s pony suddenly got spooked and threw him off, resulting in Damen losing consciousness for a few minutes. Even the king had gone white in the face with horror (Nikandros was fully sobbing between his father’s arms) but Damen, when he woke up, didn’t shed a single tear. He even giggled at them for panicking so much over “something so simple”.

“You’ll still drop it.”

Damen takes the words as some sort of challenge, for whatever reason. He begins jumping from one rock to another inside the stream.

Luck is with him at first. He skips once, twice, thrice and is in the middle of giving Nikandros a smug look when he (as Nikandros wisely predicted) slips and tries to regain his balance. The stick in his hand falls into water, immediately sinking to the bottom.

They are silent for a moment. Nikandros is way too noble to point out his victory.

“Well,” Damen says weakly. “You had a point.”

“I always do.”

Damen sighs. “Do we have any candied fruit left?”

They don’t. Damen knew it and yet didn’t put his aside before getting into the water. What happened serves him just right.

With his own sigh, Nikandros extends his candied fruit to him.

“Oh, I couldn’t.” Damen says kindly, in his princely manner he usually doesn’t bother to use around him but Nikandros can clearly see the longing in his eyes. Sweets are Damen’s ultimate weakness after all.

“Just take it,” he says testily. “I know you are crazy about anything that can and will rot your teeth, Damen.”

Egeria survives childbirth and is alive when Kastor stabs Damen the first time. It changes a few things

i wanted to ask for a drabble where our favorite side characters that might not have been sure about laurent (nikandros, lazar, pallas etc) realize exactly how much he loves him? when something happens to damen and laurent absolutely freaks out about it (i know he would be mortified about it the moment damen is fully recovered but i can't help but imagine laurent freaking the fuck out in front of nik and pallazar and whoever else and just asking damen to be okay and prepping his face with kisses)

HELLO BEAUTIFUL ANGELS!! ❤️ i hope it was okay that i ended up combining these two requests since they were similar 🥺 it was a bit longer than i originally intented so i posted it on ao3

hi baby 💖 crushcrushcrush aka my beloved "unhinged laurent au" that i never found enough inspo to write properly 🥲 the premise is so simple and yet campy! (that i'd like to think.....) auguste brings damen over as his new friend, teen laurent sees him and gets an instant crush and proceeds to lose his mind over damen for the next couple of years...