#ofdevilry

“I’m not scared.” The reply leaves John’s lips almost as a murmur ( his eyes still transfixed on the creature approaching them from across the wide clearing ), and it’s the truth; instead, he’s fascinated. It’s been some time since the BPRD’s last trip to Ireland, and the mission at hand then hadn’t been one which allowed room for much else. Since this visit is less critical, he hasn’t yet skipped an opportunity to investigate the landscape for himself — for which he could certainly have no better guide than Diaval. Finally, he permits his gaze to flicker briefly to his companion. “What's it called?”

“I am.” Although John’s lips have adopted the subtlest of smiles, it’s far from a flippant one. He’s been keenly aware of Diaval’s aversion to humans even prior to their first meeting ( after all, he’d been warned by one of the other agents to maintain his distance ); thus, to be allowed so near to the valravn’s wings now is nothing to be scoffed at. As his gaze traces along the length of the black feathers, he can still feel a spark of pleased surprise within his chest. “They’re beautiful — but I guess you don’t need me to tell you that.”

❛❛     life is very well a prison,     ❜❜      the count began, with threat in his voice.   he’d been toying with the rings around each of his fingers, stopping only once to feel the finish on an odd, misshapen garnet that was halfway down the row.      ❛❛     whether or not one makes the choice to spent their sentence in a castle or on the battlefield, i say that it shall make no difference in the end.   a cage is still a cage.     ❜❜

few   others   would   promise   her   such   a   thing .     her   father   would   say   instead ,     “ be   good   while   i’m   gone , ”     but   ever   seemed   to   be   asking   her   to   be   strong   rather   than   good .     her   brothers   always   told   her ,     “ see   you   soon , ”     until   they   could   no   longer .     to   this   day ,     mordred   swears   nothing   but   “ i   love   you , ”     his   lips   curling   gently   and   a   too-soft   look   in   his   eyes .     but   she   admires   the   bluntness   of   diaval’s   words   all   the   same ,     even   as   the   past   losses   make   them   hard   to   accept .       ❝     you   make   outwitting   death   sound   so   easy .     ❞       mirth   warms   her   gaze   though   worry   still   clings   in   the   quiet   hollows   of   her   chest .       ❝     if   only   we   all   had   such   certainty .     ❞

                  ❝At least you’re near the same height as me, Diaval.❞

                   ❝... You know, you don’t have to scare off my enemies. I can take them on myself just fine, Diaval.❞              They speak with mild irritation in their tone. While they appreciate Diaval in all he does, they would of been just fine taking their enemies on head on...

              ❝Thanks Grandpa-❞