#kakuretatsuki

In all, the female just wanted to sit beside   someone, maybe make a friend within the   camp. Corner of her eyes she spotted someone   who looked alone, maybe she could approach   this lady and befriend her despite the fact   she constantly looked annoyed.

@kakuretatsuki

For him, family is of the utmost importance. The forerunner to their defenses, but the spotlight will always fall to them. So when the edges begin to burn, and all that is left is a shield, a few dull blades, and a weak pulse of hope, he’ll grasp at it, in order to continue to give them a home.

He wants them to live, not to meet a fate so tragic.

He’s sworn in, a knight, a brother, a son. He cannot let it end. That’s why, why when Mother didn’t come home, when Father’s horse rode solo, he made sure to let his little sister know that he wouldn’t disappear like that. No matter what, the two of them are super stubborn, there’s no way they’re going to let the opportunity Mother and Father left for them go to waste.

“Big brother’s the one that’s got to make sure everyone knows how strong you are, Sev. Trust me. I’ll always have your back.”

How long has it been since he had a chance to say those words to her? How long has it been since he heard the ever familiar response?

Somewhere out there, his sister is all right, isn’t she? She’s a tough one, with friends as her wind. As odd as the two she had been… fairly close to are, Warin knows that they are reliable. But battles, time, space, that’s what hard to trust. He knows, knows he can’t always be the one to shield her. No, he’d rather not be. She’s the spotlight, tough, standing to any challenge.

Their wills, the reflection of their parents. Their hair, forever a reminder of what holds them to each other, to the world. They are the remainders of two greats.

Is she staring up at the same sky now? The sky that Mother used to soar in, that the world they saved has her soaring far… or is she somewhere different? Is she safe? Family will always be family, so she’ll always have a place to come back.

Don’t let it end.

He can’t lose her too. He hopes his will, his projection, that spirit he’s always encouraged her to have will last up. She, surrounded by those that adore her, even if she’s layered her thorns, he believes in her.

She’s his little sister, his family.

Wherever she is, whenever she is, just please...

“Let me lift you up from here too, Sev. Whatever it is you’re struggling with, I’m with you. That’s what brothers do.”

On this day, she is not a princess. She’s nothing more thana simple girl, helping her guardian sell flowers in the underground. Yet still her smile is of the brightest stars, the kind that is just barely able to crack through the heavy overcast of darkness and shine. 

So she radiates, and for once, she wants not the treatment of a cute, little royal at a gala, though both of those she truly is. She wants to interact with all that she can as Elise, the strong, young lady who can hold a candle to her siblings in support, a family girl whose smiles befit the world ever so, no bars held. The princess bit is out of the equation for now, it has to be.

What is hidden in the world for her to see? What might she learn? What might she see?

“There’s only one way to learn everything!”

She’s a bit clumsy with her dancing, but that’s not her focus when she goes to the ball. It’s to have fun, not-held back by titles, not refrained by pillared customs. If she wants to see everyone naturally, she has to hide certain bits of who she is, so a mask she places over her eyes, her hair she has styled differently. Ohhh! Does she look more mature and dignified like this? Stand tall, stand super tall, just like Camilla. Use poise and grace, point toes and tip-tap lightly, so that there’s only a few soft clicks. 

And when she wants to be noticed, she’ll use more force, but it’s still up and lady-like. She’ll be on her very best behavior, and discover what it is others do when they can be themselves, without feeling the need to be all stick and stiff. 

“Don’cha worry, I’m gonna be just fine. I promise. Pinkie promise. So thank you sooooo much for helping me get ready. If anyone asks, you’re my big sis there, so you have to have to be my back up! I’m your member B in the Fashion Ball Going Committee, right?”

But wait, what more causes he lips to quiver? What else does she have to say before the ball is set and lips are tight? This day, this chance, all this is wonderful! More time, if she’s got such a great family... if she’s able to wear this mask... then...

“And say, Big Sis? Could you tell me more about your friends sometime? They sound so coll! Not as cool you are, of course! You’re the best for doing this with me! We’re gonna have sooooo much fun!”

❤️- A happy memory that makes them smile

Promises, ones that could speak louder than mere words ever will. They’re delicate, quiet, even a mere brush of a hand can mark a swear for years to come. He feels safe, safe near her, near his family, and even as he rests against Mister Stahl, the sounds of slight pattering of pairs of feet moving around nearby, he doesn’t feel out of place.

Inigo likes being around his mother and father, but Mister Stahl, Severa’s father, is nice. Her family is warm, and it’s rare he’s under their care. It’s usually the other way around.

“Th-Thank you…” he whispers, as he keeps his eyes closed. He’s nervous, clearly, as his breathing seems to change pace, deep breaths shift to shallow and vice versa. Sometimes, it’s really scary being in unfamiliar places; he’s used to hiding behind Owain or one of the other boys he’s talked to, or gaping from a distance. He’ll cling to those he’s most familiar with when his parents aren’t there, a fault of his heavy shyness.

Stahl gently ruffles Inigo’s white hair, making sure not to move too much otherwise, his softer voice speaking,

“They’ll be back soon, Inigo. And haha, don’t you worry. Severa’s still here with you.”

Stahl is very well aware of how positively his daughter gets along with the son of the other Shepards. It’s quite nice, the fact that they’ve formed friendships, so that they’ll have comforts during the times their parents have to fight for their futures, so that they’ll never be alone.

“Y-Yes…” Inigo responds, his voice almost so soft it’s nearly unintelligible. But as he grips the small rabbit plush that rests on his lap, the one that Mother allowed him to take as a certain comfort, he feels a hand brush against his own, a pressure meeting his other side.

“I told you Daddy’s the best at this sort of thing.”

Severa.

Ah, I like… being near her… not difficult… to stay…

Her hand is warm. He doesn’t want to open her eyes to look at her, because he’d probably want to skitter away to Stahl’s other side. He can’t look directly at the moon when she’s this close anyway, not right now. Too bright, too inviting, he wants to shrink.

“Hey, are you listening? You better be grateful to me and Daddy. We… We don’t wanna see you with a frown…”

What is Severa’s expression? Is she pouting? As her hand stays a top of his he feels a quick press of a plush against his cheek - the bear, right? He brought them both... He wishes he can speak, the he can be as cool as Owain and the other kids, like a prince, even, but words aren’t allowing him so.

Yet, he likes this familial hold, the closeness, the warmth, he’s used to things like this, and... Severa seems happy too, doesn’t she?

“Have you heard the word of a story about a boy who was very, very lonely~? I think that’s the word Olivia used, and wonderfully wandering alone boy whose parents didn’t care where he was~! That’s right, he was sorta neglected, but it’s okay, it’s okay! That’s a day, a day way in the past!”

Maybe, within the holds and withholds of his distant, pleasantly unpleasant old days, rings true an answer to who is, who he wants to be, and why, why, why there’s a certain way he views the sky. So he chooses to tell her, not as a friend, but as a father to a daughter, as a father to a future mother. He hasn’t known her as long as that other self of him would have, but that changes not the fact that she knows him, that their clocks tick and click so that they can meet like this. 

Is there truly, truly a forthcoming reason for his choice? Yes, no, maybe so? Regardless, Henry… Henry has always, constantly, found comfort around animals. The crows, they’re his good friends, warning and warning him of dangers, the magic that’s always one snap away from breaking not only him strengthening those curious shakes. Why did he tell them? Why did he approach them? Not only one, not only two, but more than a few. 

And she, the daughter of some “friends” of his, and the likely love of his dear, dear son, should now, right, right, she should know a little! Overshare or over-care? What is it? What is it? Henry cannot say, not tomorrow, not yesterday, not today.

He smiles at her, that wide, wide grin, the one that doesn’t drop ever, ever… well, maybe when the fear does hit, but what is that fear? To lose the stars again? The one, cared for by animals, a wonder, a wonder though, how he didn’t end up too feral? Pain and pain so much it numbed him, as if he’s always, consistently and persistently, within the reigns of freezing rain.

“This boy, he grew up wandering about the woods, because his parents didn’t mind where he went~! Buuuuut he wasn’t alone, he had a friend, a good friend, that gave him a homeee~. But one day... one day that friend had to go away, because that friend went to wrong place, and people didn’t like that very much.”

Does he sound sad? That day, he was really like an animal, no, beyond that. Moving with magic by instinct, kind of wiping out soul by soul without even really remembering it too well afterwards. He had been attached, attached to that warmth, that comfort. Spikes and spikes, punishment and absence of adoration, war became fun, when he had something to do, to keep doing, but those orders, no, he didn’t like all of them too much.

“Miss Rabbit, Panne, her name is, has the same air as that friend of the boy. At least, she reminds him of his friend. Hahaha, but you seeeee, the boy no longer has to search for a home, because he has one now. Animals, animals like the friend that helped him stay safe will always be close, but it’s these people that are fuuuun to him tooo~!”

Henry pauses, looking at her curiously, studying Severa as best he could. They... They’re around the same age here, aren’t they? And she ended up having a portion of her life where the stars grew distant too...

“That animal friend of him aught him about allllll the bright stars, but they disappeared after she went away... They’re back now though, so don’t worry~”

It’s all good I’ll be sure to write on your tombstone that you’re fantastic