#kalgor

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Because love is a headache and sometimes you need to use magic to zap it away. 

Wholesome Game of Diplomacy AU fanart that I had to battle through art block to scrape together DX

“You’llhave to forgive my popularity.”

Moon’s words glossed over the unspoken game that previously barred Kalgorfrom her. Drink and self-constructed folly were the queen’s tactics forenduring bustling royal parties. Kalgor’s overbearing presence could be shedeasily under the guise of wishing to be polite and meet all guests. Flittingfrom visitor to visitor, often with the accompaniment of the septarian whom shehad recently decided to tolerate granted each dull assembly with an element ofchallenge. She was quite certain that Toffee had the game sussed, and yet he couldonly relay to Kalgor that his queen was merely upkeeping her valuable allianceswith others.

Whilst the drink and dances added to Moon’s smiling mask, such habitsalso made the handling of her husband in the aftermath all the easier. In afluid motion, Moon’s gloved hand rose to take the wechuge’s arm.

“I don’tsuppose you had a moment to speak with Lady Renn over the course of theevening?”

She asked somewhat flippantly in an effort to keep the monster’sattention on the matters that had taken place beneath the masked amicabilitythat framed the visitors that evening.

“Thereseems to be a peculiar trend of things going awry when she attends gatheringssuch as these. I suspect she may try to make some bold move come tomorrowevening.”

The statement was one which Moon knew may receive a more useful responsecome morning, but before any distraction or incident it seemed fitting to askKalgor what he knew, if anything, whilst planting a seed of concern to followup on.

A mewman noble with a shadowy track record was something to be wary of.To cause issue would prove bold, but to those who disagreed with the merging ofmonsters into the Butterfly Kingdom, it was exactly the kind of move that woulddraw other silent supporters out of the crowd. The last thing the castle neededwas an uprising from within. Both monster and mewmans were in needs ofstability and a confidence from their monarchy that both races could existtogether both fairly and peacefully.

In idly recognition of the more effective means of holding Kalgor’sattention, the queen tilted her head up towards him, adopting an air ofconcern.

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Have some Fluff AU fanart to fulfill your romance needs~

Music, laughter and forced conversation had been the silver lining that Moon had snatched in the wake of her opening dance. It was less of a spectacle to dance amongst the crowd of monsters and mewmans than with her husband, but even still the young queen knew that every set of eyes that wished to survey the festivities and locate a partner would settle upon her first.

For one that considered herself rather reserved and reluctant to mingle for the sake of niceties, Moon found herself sinking into the duty of dancing with royal visitors and guests of note with relative ease. Each dance was only a matter of minutes and as she flitted from partner to partner, Moon discovered that the opportunity for uncomfortable conversation was vastly reduced when limited to the duration of a song. What’s more, dancing with strangers and allies presented the perfect opportunity to avoid her new husband in the light of political necessity. The limbo between her first and approaching final dance was a welcome respite. The young queen sought to offer all that approached for a private moment on the ballroom floor with a welcoming hand.

In a break between partners, Moon permitted herself to drift to the outskirts of the room. Her pale gaze soon found Toffee who was thankfully engaged in conversation with a neighbouring queen whom he had just danced with. With a slow breath, Moon contemplated standing out for the next dance in favour of fetching a drink. Such plans were immediately shattered by the well-armoured septarian whom had been so kindly gifted to her by means of her husband. Wargrin. She was thankful she could remember the name, but a little less thankful when a large hand was offered to her.

“Come on, now.” The septarian pushed boldly at the flicker of hesitation that he caught within the pale eyes opposite his own. “You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together. Might as well start as we mean to go on, eh?”

Was this going to be better or worse than her dance with Toffee? For once, Moon was not entirely certain.

“You’re right.” The young queen replied obligingly as she stood in the shadow of the broad monster who proceeded to lead her to the middle of the ballroom at the joining of their hands.

“What a nice affirmation.” Wargrin replied affably. With the feast over and done with, he found himself in a more amicable mood than usual. The positive air that followed Toffee’s crowning seemed particularly infectious as it swam about the monsters. “You see, I tell myself I’m right all the time, but it has a nice ring coming from a little queen.”

“…You’re...welcome.” The response mirrored Moon’s confusion at the statement whilst a clawed hand curved about her waist and the pair went about their opening steps. Between numerous dips, twirls and a closer proximity than she would have wished to the cold armour of the monster, Moon found herself subject to a conversation that had her wishing the composer would drop dead to free the room of its musical obligation to be in pairs. This was not the person she wanted to be in a pair with to dance, but unfortunately the queen discovered such things once it was far too late.

“You look pretty, Little Crown. Such a nice dress they’ve put you in.”

“…Yes, I hear the tailor began work on it the very night I returned to the castle with you all.”

“It won’t be the tailor who works on it tonight.”

“…I’m sorry? I don’t…know what you mean.”

“Hah! Well I should hope your husband lets you out of it. You look thoroughly tangled up in there.”

A flush of pink found the queen’s cheeks as her head snapped away from the septarian’s.

“No need to be shy, my Crown. Part of married life, you know. Perhaps you’ll be rewarded later for granting our general such a nice day, I’d say you’ve got him in quite a favourable mood.”

“…I don’t think this is a discussion for you and I to be having.”

“Well if nobody talks of it at all, how would we know what to do with one another?! You do know what to do with a man, don’t you?”

Silence. A further reddening of cheeks.

“Well,” The monster grunted, lowering his head to rumble into her ear as their dance drew to a close. “You’ll learn.”

As soon as the music drew to a close on the song, Moon pulled her hands back to herself as if the septarian were scalding to the touch. The rising and falling of her chest had increased a touch; easily dismissed as the effect of prolonged dancing in a corset. With thoroughly flushed cheeks, Moon scanned the crowd in one of her regular checks for the location of Toffee. Instead, she found the wary gaze of River who was beginning to approach through the sea of people. The Johansen prince had been the only member of royalty to which Moon had yet to share a dance. She did not intend on changing this. It would be too sore, too fresh, to dance with the man she had been forced to abandon a future with. After his stunt in the ceremony, it was quite justifiable for her to deny him the right of her hand on the ballroom floor. Despite such firm resolve in the area of denying her once-betrothed a dance, the gnawing pall of guilt did not lower its head. In a swift move to avoid both the Johansen prince and the approaching inevitability of her final dance, Moon turned and set herself about weaving through the crowd. If she could slip out for a moment alone without anyone following her she could collect herself after Wargrin’s abrasive destruction of her composure.

As the queen took the more crowded of routes in order to make her escape from River, the length of her dress soon found itself caught beneath shifting feet. Such an abrupt catching of her dress sent Moon stumbling into the arm of what was quite easily identified as a monster from the sheer size and proportions. A gasp caught in the queen’s throat as her arms instinctively latched onto the stranger’s arm to save herself from a more embarrassing fall.

“I’msosorry!” The words tumbled from Moon’s mouth in a girlishly apologetic tone. “I wasn’t looking where I was going, I didn’t—” As she spoke, her gaze lifted to the face of the frightfully tall monster that dwarfed all that surrounded. For a moment she blinked at the crown of antlers and piercing eyes that settled upon her, feeling a growing sense of trepidation after how her dance with Wargrin had just ended. Monster conversation and the reception of her by them had been patchy and often more than a little awkward and uncomfortable. “…mean…to.” Moon finished clumsily, offering a flicker of an apologetic smile as she released her hold of his arm in favour of giving a soft tug to the skirt of her dress.

It appeared as if temporary escape was out of the issue. However, when sighting her engaged in conversation with a monster she had yet to be introduced to, River was not likely to dare approach or interrupt. It was a saving grace of sorts, Moon decided.

Kalgor & Moon

Oh my goodness I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I did that

Let’s promise not to speak of this again.

I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me.

I suppose this once, I’ll make an exception.

You don’t have the authority to do that.

I'm sorry to call you here so late, but there have been some developments.

What made you think you could give those orders without me?

I can see how much it hurts…please let me help you.

They do things differently up here.

You don’t understand! I traumatised him!

I threw him against a wall and did goodness knows what.

I think I kissed him. I can taste mint. Oh god I kissed him.

The forests are different up here. Quieter. More still. We need to keep moving.

I saw something. Up in the trees. Something frozen and bloodied. I think it’s a warning.

It’s a little late to be playing campfire games.

Whilst I’ve been organising strategic movements for tomorrow’s battle, you two have been fighting over a chicken wing?

I promise to keep all six hands to myself in future.

I need you to forgive me so that I can forgive myself.

They’re following us. They’ve been following for the last two miles. I can hear the clicking.

If we wish to have safe passage, we have to give them what they demand.

Don’t speak like that. I forbid it. You have no other place to be but here, by my side.

I've lost too much on this journey. I won't lose you too.

My apologies for the informal attire, but matters have become quite urgent.

I’m going to need you when the time comes.

Of course you would be missed. Plenty of people are waiting outside just to hear news of your condition.

I know it hurts. I promise I’ll be careful.

I think I’ve managed to find something that will help.

It sounds ridiculous but that was the last part of my mother I had left.

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss her terribly.

Come sit. There’s a space here with fire and furs, you’ll warm up soon.

Ughhhhhh I don’t know what to do...

If I have to ride for one more hour you shall have to amputate my legs and strap me to the saddle.

Please don’t bet away your food rations. I need you to keep your strength.

…Please don’t bet your clothes either, I’d rather not have an army of naked soldiers.

I think you’ll find ladies are much more intrigued with what is left to the imagination.

I won’t be pulled into your lewd little games again. Once was more than enough.

Nobody at the castle would believe you once we return. You were all drunk.

The gods are different in these lands. Your prayers won’t be heard here.

Word is, if you die in the snow, they’ll drag you to the camps and eat you until there’s nothing but bone.

There’s a difference between monsters and beasts.

I’m afraid I’m going to be selling you to slavery.

I’d marry you, but I’ve been told that I’m an awfully bossy wife.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to kill you. It’s a merciful thing, really. I’ve heard slavery is a terrible business.

I am not going to eat you.

Stop asking me to eat you.

I’m going to die just like my mother.

Was it always this cold?

I’m so sorry…about everything that’s happened since we came up here.

I owe you my life.

I don’t know how I could ever repay you.

Words cannot express how glad I am that I had you with me throughout this arduous journey.

I was honoured to have you by my side.

They love to see you. It makes them happy.

The next person to place his comrade in danger will be eating snow until we reach the border.

I may be merciful, but do not mistake that for weakness.

I will carve our path in fire and blood.

The storm is too fierce. We cannot send word until it has passed.

How many have pledged themselves to me and died as a result of it?

My men fought to bring us here, and I will fight to ensure that those lost along the way did not die for nothing.

The snow will be their pall.

Nightmare:Shelay beneath a sea of fine silk, cottons and furs. Familiar arms held her close,latching onto the much-needed warmth Moon offered on  winter nights. From the tall, arching windows,snow swallowed all sound of the outside world, giving way to the softer noisesthat filled the room about them. Every now and then a crackling snapped intothe atmosphere from the dying fire before a soft hiss of shifting ash permittedthe last of the embers to dim further. Sheets sounded their hushed reminder ofany faint movement that took place beneath and the large grandfather clock thatadorned the wall ticked steadily as its pendulum swung to the count of morning. 

Forsome time, Moon lay in silence. Pregnancy had granted her many a sleeplessnight, leaving the young queen with the whispers of trinkets, magical artefactsand fire to grant her company as she lay drifting between sleep in the arms ofher husband. After some time, she began to settle her thoughts upon therhythmic ticking of the clock; surrendering to the quiet passing of eachmeasured moment. 

Thatwas, until the ticking began to slow.

 Itbegan to sound every other tick of its usual pattern. Then every four ticksuntil the sound itself melded into a soft clicking of hooved feet. 

Moonstiffened. 

Suddenlyit were as if the windows had been opened. A ferocious cold burst it’s way into the small sanctuary, causing Moon to press into the arms that held her inorder to savour the newfound warmth that they offered. A deep hum ofappreciation shook the emaciated chest that had weaved its way into the placeof Toffee’s. 

Afearful breath stuck in the queen’s throat, sounding as a tortured whimper. Withcare, her hands curved protectively around the swell of her belly. 

Thesweet scent of mint-laded breath found her mouth, shushing the queen benevolentlywhilst a large hand took her chin to plead her eyes to meet his own. Meltedflesh mutilated the face she had grown to fear so deeply, causing a sob to fallin the place of words as Moon’s eyes beheld what remained of Kalgor.

Their first impression: Insecure. Craves recognition. Lonely. Hard worker. Tempermental.

Their current impression: Dangerous. Treacherous. Obsessive. Unstable. Cunning.

What they like the most about your muse: Competent, versatile skillset, eager to please, intelligent, eye for detail.

What they dislike the most about your muse: Stubborn, violent temper when provoked, will kill for attention from a pretty girl, ambitious, unpredictable.

What your muse is for them (friend, lover, rival etc.): Ally Enemy. Subordinate Threat.

A general opinion of their relationship: Kalgor was useful, if odd and occasionally tedious to work with, and ultimately sorely undetestimated. The red flags of his behaviour slipped through the cracks in the midst of more pressing concerns.