The world was changing, for better or for worse it was changing. Subtly wasn’t the forefront, more a violent thrusting by some unruly children with big dreams and uncrushable spirits. Persistent to the end and now here they all are.

But who was he to judge them? He wasn’t there anymore, wasn’t that man anymore. A vicious cycle he found himself in... But this second death should be the last.

How weird to live for himself again.

It was easy enough to blend into the woodwork, everyone knew the head of Leviathan’s Claw was buried at sea. Crushed under rubble and rotting with the fish. Yeager, however, was here. Alive. Breathing the air of Dahngrest without strings to be pulled.

Really, those kids should’ve figured out he’d pull such a thing sooner.

But it wasn’t thoughts of bratty teens and young adults that currently held his interest in the guild town. No, he would’ve preferred it if it had been in this moment, if he allowed a trace of honesty. But those brown eyes, that signature hair flick. It would seem the past just wouldn’t stay dead this time and Yeager could feel the disdain at the thought edge its way into his glare.

Foolish girl. Dead girl.

He wouldn’t say anything right now, though.. The hood of his outfit pulled firmly over that mess of spiked hair. It’s longer now, but it was still so obvious, and while he is usually the type for boasting... He was still on this city’s watch list.

How unfortunate it must have been for her to look his way, to catch that glare...

A grumble as the half-pint pirate wandered out of the Tavern, chewing on an oden in discontent. Not even a lick of luck at getting a good old sip of rum. Her only option was to go find Raven and pester him to share his stash or just steal sips when he isn’t paying attention. 

Amidst her planning of theft from the old man, the pirate didn’t seem to notice the woman until it was too late and she walked right into her. A yelp as she stumbled back, coughing to keeping from choking on her oden.

Moment of Weakness || Accepting

13. Your muse is being beat up by mine, something your muse did must of been the last straw.

He raised his arms to defend himself as he felt his back hit the ground. She screamed out in her fury and came at him with everything she was worth. He didn’t want this. He didn’t know want any of this and quite frankly he didn’t know what to do. 

It’d been some time since they’d last seen each other, both caught at distant sides of a closed war between Brave Vesperia and Leviathan’s Claw all Alexei’s doing of course. 

Had he known? Had Alexei known when he chose them to return to the land of the living that he still wore her ring upon his finger and his heart still rested in her hands? Had he chose her as another pawn to test his loyalties and push his boundaries because he could still remember the first moment he saw her. He could still feel his heart skip a beat and blood pool in his cheeks at the sight of her. 

The relief that had washed over him. The tears he wanted to shed in that moment but could not. She was alive. The one he’d pledge his very soul to, she was alive. 

But Axelei made sure to keep the two at arms length but never touching, and oh how he’d wanted to. How he’d wanted to wrap her in his arms and kiss her worries away. To embrace her and let the world melt away while he focused on her and nothing else. 

But that was impossible now. He had children now. He couldn’t let his heart stray to that of a love that should have died along with them both. He had other lives to worry about now, and he couldn’t let his judgement become clouded by selfish reasons. 

But they were free of him now; free of the devil that tugged them around on strings like nothing but wooden lifeless dolls. They were free to do as they wished now, and when he saw her; saw her for the first time in two years since he’d faked his own death he couldn’t help the smile that had crossed his lips. 

But he wasn’t expecting this. He wasn’t expecting her to scream at him and swing out in anger. He wasn’t expecting her to lash out at him so. What had he done? Why was she so upset with him? 

“Nien, mein liebe! Halt, Bitte!”  (”No, my love! Stop, please!”)

@knightoftheguilds : Lily in palette 5, maybe?