#keithrigfire313

Here’s a palette of blue

Elsword in this path is a tiny little ball of determination and stress.  Ain doesn’t understand human emotion, so he’s absolutely confounded when Elsword drives himself nearly to the point of collapse out of a sense of duty to the Elgang.

Actually, Ain starts getting closer with Elsword when he realizes external threats aren’t the only thing he has to protect Elsword from.  He’s eventually the one that pushes Elsword to eat, to get enough sleep, to stop training all the damn time and take care of himself properly.

It’s Elsword that loves Ain.  Ain doesn’t allow himself to feel love, because he’s scared of what might happen if he strayed from Ishmael’s path that far.  Actually, whenever Elsword says “I love you,” Ain panics and ends Intervention.

It’s unclear how much Elsword knows about the nature of Ain’s service to Ishmael.  In any case, every time Ain has doubts, Elsword always seems to know exactly the right thing to say or do to make him feel better.  Ain’s fragile “emotional” state depends entirely on Elsword.

Fluffy moments are rare, and actual dates are rarer, but they’re cherished all the more for that scarcity.

Elsword had watched Ain’s condition grow worst with time. The priest’s distress as none of his prayers were answered.And then everything fell apart. Ain fell to the corruption.. Elsword learned of everything. Of Ain being an angel before.

Despite the risks, the swordsman still held the shivering being close, whispering soft words. It seemed to work, since Ain stopped acting like a leaf caught in the wind.“I failed…” He repeated again and again.“You’ll be fine.. We can work through this.” Elsword hummed, patting Ain’s hair.

Durenda was growing rather frustrated with her increasing number of failed attempts to solve the problem plaguing them. Parts of Elysion were collapsing. Their home was, quite literally, falling apart. She’d gone on numerous investigations, trying to find something, anything. She always came back empty-handed, with nothing to think about, and nothing to give to Hugo for his help either.

He did reassure her, energetically, that it would be fine, that he was working on a solution to the problem. That he’d almost figured out the source. He almost had it! He’d have it within the week!

But the truth? He had no idea. And she could tell. Because if he’d made any actual progress, she knew, he would have come to her first, brimming with excitement and dumping information all about what he’d figured out, because he always went off on tangents, even when the situation was too dire to listen to him. But he hadn’t done so.

They would continue to look for a solution, as anxiety set deeper in both of their usually uniquely-stoic personalities.

Theodore’s birds were not helping much either. He sent them out, but he often lost track of them. He lost their signal, they never came back. Only once did he even find the remains of one, sitting in front of the pink Elysion tree.

Even though it distressed him, he remained calm, as he always had, although his usual serene smile had faded into a more completely neutral expression.

Bernard came to him asking for help, to get the birds to go into the Palace and bring out information, because he was receiving no orders or information at all as their city crumbled. Theodore’s neutral expression became a slight frown, as he had to confess that he’d already tried, and already failed. It hurt him to disappoint Bernard. Bernard sighed, but tried to tell him it was okay. He’d already checked in with the others, and perhaps he was already aware that there was nothing that could be done in this situation.

He asked Theodore to continue to try, because he believed if they would simply be patient, he would bring in important results. If they would just wait.

Theodore sends Bernard birdies with love notes, even though half the time they’re like right next to each other.  He thinks it’s romantic.  Bernard thinks Theodore needs to stop reading trashy human romance novels.

Bernard is kind of a workaholic.  Theodore has to cajole and convince him to ever take time off, but it’s worth it when he does.

Durenda teases them both about their emotional chips malfunctioning.  Hugo awkwardly pats them.  Nobody else cares.

They’re both trying to find their ways in the world, but they still have time to come together and talk.

Discussions can get a bit existential.  They reinforce each other’s beliefs in goodness and virtue, though.

There are times when Elsword will disappear to the training room for hours and hours, maybe even days.  When he’s like that, Ain is the only one who can bring him back to normal life.  The same goes for Elsword when Ain gets into a rut of constant prayer.

Ain isn’t yet reserved about showing public affection, so when Elsword hugs or kisses him in public, he simply smiles and draws his little boyfriend closer.