#makovu

@makovu​​ :    the answer is given simply. it's a confirmation of what leona knows, likely given because malleus knows leona would know if he was lying. the answer doesn't come with the feeling leona expects. he expects bitterness and sorrow and mistrust, but instead ———

the truth sparks through leona like lightning catching dry grass in the savanna. he lunges for malleus, hands grasping at his collar. "give me one reason not t' turn you to sand right here, you horned bastard," he growls, his ears flattening against his head and his green eyes alight. leona can practically feel the fabric of malleus' shirt breaking away into sand beneath his fingers, the itch of magic beneath his skin and behind his lips whispering that the only reason malleus is still alive now is because his unique magic is kept secure behind an incantation.

hurt coils in his gut and bubbles through his veins. the proximity is not unusual for the two of them nowadays, but this time is different. this time there is no warmth or openness. this time there is only guarded hurt, leona's vulnerabilities as concealed as possible from malleus, and rage.

"maybe i should do it. end this right now." but already the bite is leaving his voice, and the tremble in his hands becomes more palpable. "why?" he asks, quieter now. "did you think it was funny, toying with me like that? because i don't." but you knew that, he doesn't say aloud, letting the accusation shine through in his eyes.

The confrontation is anticipated. In fact some might argue that it was written in the stars from the very beginning, written the moment Leona laid his head down to sleep that first night. That night began the first chapter of their story, page after page sewn into a sturdy spine until both of their heartstrings were too entangled to separate without tearing the whole thing apart. Even now as Leona threatens to tear away from him, Malleus feels his heart unravelling at the seams. Nothing was ever going to make this encounter easy. No amount of time was ever going to prepare him for what lies ahead. 

In contrast to Leona’s vibrant fury, Malleus remains placid & composed. They’re a faded echo of themself, face completely colorless as they let Leona manhandle them. The prince stays stock still, his expression empty save for pale green eyes. Those eyes stay fixed on Leona, betraying Malleus’ true feelings as they meet the other’s enraged glare with a melancholic gaze. 

“  Because you love me.  ”  The answer comes simply & without any sort of mirth or malice. It would be all too easy to use this fact as a means of taunting Leona. Were they both closer to the beginning of their story Malleus would have used anything as leverage without hesitation. Back when all that lied between them was schoolyard rivalry & an endless chess game. 

But now it’s different. Now this answer is given because it is the only answer to give. This answer is given because it’s true & they both know it. Leona loves him & in turn Malleus loves Leona as well. The unconventional & fantastical terms in which they came together does not make the statement any less true. It does not make their love any less real.

That love is palpable in the intensity of Leona’s grasp, in the hurt & betrayal that fails to be completely concealed from his eyes. It lies in Malleus’ stillness, in their willingness to accept defeat without giving so much of a fight. This encounter is a testament of their love, not a display of the absence of it. 

Malleus takes note of Leona’s shaking hands & moves to gingerly take one in his own. He does this knowing full well the possible consequences of it. With their head high, & their heart unafraid Malleus steps further into the lions den knowing the king of beasts intends to slaughter him. 

“  If putting an end to me will repair your broken heart, I will not discourage you. But you ought to know this fate for us was not premeditated. I did not personally weave your dreams into something that would please me.  ”  Tentatively Malleus squeezes Leona’s hand in his, a wordless affirmation of his continuous & true love.  “  The purpose of the enchantment is to create a reality in which its inhabitants are safe & happy. What brings happiness to each individual is not my choice or control. If this version of time led you to me, that is not my doing. You should know better than most that magic has a mind of its own.  ”

Malleus then decides to take a chance, a leap of faith that sends them hurdling deeper inside the belly of the beast. He raises their intertwined hands, pressing a reverent kiss to Leona’s knuckles. Were it not for the sadness still resting in the fae’s eyes, one could believe nothing had changed between them. Without another word, Malleus releases Leona’s hand, effortlessly stepping out of the prince’s steely grip. 

“Thanks for that,”  Rather than seeming upset, there’s an air of almost - giddy relief / a lightness that has them bouncing on their feet.  Running through the otherwise - halls of THE WRONG SCHOOL from an assassin (  they panicked hopping into the mirror, okay, there were desperate  ) and running into somebody is rarely ideal, if only because it forces her to stop moving, but — well, the assassin had disappeared (  literally!  fucking fae!  ) upon seeing whoever Roan’s slammed into.  Must be somebody important.

Though Luxu can not savor their scent, he can still appreciate their colors. Gloved hands gingerly handling the brilliant petals of a divinely red rose, Luxu does his best to imagine what it might smell like, for he’d heard them to be described as a subtle sort of sweetness---a medley of honeyed and fruity notes. Unfortunately, while he can certainly appreciate having such information relayed to him, it means so little to him when he’d never before been able to experience such sensations.

Nonetheless, these beautiful hues---vision passing from the rich redness of one rose to the pale violets of the lavenders, on further down to the playful pinks and oranges of various other blossoms dotting the verdant green foliage surrounding the stony path---can be appreciated for what they are.

❛  well ,  well ,  well .  look  at  what  the  lion  dragged  in .  ❜  the  tone  of  her  voice  ,  while  calm ,  did  not  the  slight  venom  within  it .  the  man  before  her  may  have  stopped  trying  to  actively  hurt  people  since  the  magift  tournament ,  but  she  still  held  some  reservations  being  around  him .  sure ,  he  helped  her  with  azul  &.  his  ‘ situation ’  but  he  still  didn’t  have  to  go  antagonizing  anyone  &.  everyone  that  crossed  his  path .  ❛  &.  what  does  the  great  LEONA  KINGSCHOLAR  want  with  little  ole  me ?  don’t  tell  me  you’ve  gotten  yourself  into  a  spat  of  trouble  that  even  ruggie  couldn’t  salvage .  ❜  the  so - called  siren  of  octavinelle  probably  shouldn’t  be  talking  to  a  literal  prince  as  such ,  but  being  of  royalty  herself ,  she  thought  it  was  fair  game .

“    the things overblot can do to the mind,    ”    lilia starts as greeting.    there is no judgement in her voice,    gaze neutral as it shifts to leona──    only a touch aloof,    if anything.    “    it’s identical to filling a cup slowly    &.    surely,    until the smallest drop overwhelms it,    body    &.    mind.    wouldn’t you agree?    ”

@makovu slumbers: maybe leona fell asleep while idia's gaming. maybe he's purring a little in his sleep. don't worry about it.

Unpropmted // Always Accepting♥

It wasn’t uncommon for Leona to hang around while Idia gamed. It was a new tradition but felt familiar as though they’d done it all their lives. At one point they almost had. When they were younger and spent more time together Idia vaguely remembered playing games on portable devices while Leona hung around napping or reading. It was much the same now. Leona would lounge on Idia’s bed while Idia would sit in his gaming chair racing through level after level, dungeon after dungeon, of his games trying to find how far he could go. Rarely did they speak typically both just enjoyed one another’s company in silence. But once in a while a conversation would get going. Something that surprisingly distracted Idia enough that his games became a secondary thought.

Today was a quiet day however. Even Idia’s gaming was kept near silent. Where typically he could be heard cheering on his teammates or scoffing at his enemies or just talking with his partners, today he was surprisingly still. His focus so caught on the game he didn’t even need to stomp his feet or tap his fingers to keep his focus. His focus was so latched onto the game he hadn’t noticed when Leona fell asleep. It wasn’t until an hour later when the boss battle was over that he finally came back to reality. He sighs dropping his controller next to his computer. Only with the game paused and finished does he finally hear the light sound of sleeping mixed with gentle purring.

Turning in his chair and removing his headphones he sees Leona laying still on his bed, sleeping soundly to the worldly. At Leona’s feet is the crumbled up comforter for the bed. Standing to his feet Idia pulls the comforter over Leona making sure he doesn’t get cold. He knows he shouldn’t be concerned, Leona probably wouldn’t care for his concerns and besides they both know how odd this is. Neither should be accustomed to this after all. It’s odd. A lion shouldn’t be so comfortable sleeping in a rat’s room and a rat shouldn’t be so comfortable with a lion sleeping in their room like this. Yet here they both were happily comfortable in their presence as though this was how things were meant to be. He glances to the crumbled up covers shoved to the bottom of the bed and pulls them up over Leona. Yet here they were living in peace like it didn’t matter. Maybe it didn’t matter. Maybe their differences weren’t so vast that it affected them. Or maybe Idia was just thinking wishfully while listening to Leona’s gentle purring.

  “ U-Um -- ” 

  She already knows what she wants to ask before opening her mouth. The hesitation is just an embellishment frequent in her usual performance. That and she wants to be careful not to accidentally say anything that would make Leona suspicious of her intentions. 

 “ Can I ... ask you something ? Just from your perspective. ”

  There’s a brief recollection of Grim gobbling down those black stones before she pushes it away in her mind to focus on the conversation she wants to have. To say she’s simply concerned about Grim’s indulgence in them without any regard to the possible consequences is a great understatement. Pages in books could only supply her with so much information, and the headmaster ... he’s not reliable in her eyes. When all the texts fail her, the next best thing to turn to are, well, other people.