#raicouda

Originally started by @jellybeanwriter , identify your characters as members of the Five Man Band trope, then tag 5 people!  I was tagged by @power-of-ages-writeblr, hey homie~

(For those who don’t know the trope, watch an explanation by Overly Sarcastic Productions here! )

I got waaaay too into this analysis, so consider this fair warning.

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Leader:

Caecius all the way.  Not only is he the actual captain of the team, his personality has “protag syndrome” written all over it.  Even when the Clan splits with warring dynamics, his role is fairly uncontested.

Lancer:

The uh... actual protagonist of the book:  Ira.  She fits the bill as a foil, rival, partner, etc to the leader - and she’s the unstable lone wolf, as well as the prodigy glass cannon in combat.  Also the lovely center of all the Clan tensions: inspired by those that would want to see her take Caecius’ place as leader.

 As a secondary lancer, however, I also have Raicouda.  He was enough of a surly, edgy foil to Caecius... but the catch is, they never actually worked well as a team, at least until Ira came along to shuffle the board.  Now with Ira as his leader, Rai makes a great right-hand-manticore.

Heart:

This one is mostly Talon, given that he play the emotionally stable middle man between Case and Ira for most of the book(s).  He fits the role nicely - as he was Caecius’ trusted right hand man, who then fostered a close friendship with Ira to help her acclimate to her new life, and keep the Clan Betas (and the rest of the members for that matter), from tearing each other apart.  He has a foot in each corner, and more than enough compassion to go around.

A secondary heart is also sometimes seen in Arcana, whose influence and character dynamics are often not as visible.  But she does play this role to significant effect during Certain Plot Events.

Smart Guy:

Now this one is actually Arcana.  As the legitimate Clan tactician, she was Caecius’ pocket ace in intellect long before she began gravitating to Ira.  Thankfully, she has enough loyalty to serve both Caecius as her captain, and Ira... as her own personal “heart” member of the team.

Branching off into Caecius’ perspective, we also have Pinnavoche, his previous emotional center who is now a guarded but trustworthy confidante.  While Case still relies on her for some emotional support - she fits this role in his eyes thanks to her practical knowledge in socio-cultural matters, which proves useful as the plot progresses.

Tank:

... Also known as the big guy, this role on the main squad tends to shuffle between Talon (Ira’s self-proclaimed bodyguard) and Caecius (her partner in battle.)  Both are certainly big enough, and tip the scale with their own brand of strength: Talon is a damage sponge, and Caecius is a veteran hard-hitter.

Also a notable addition in the full ensemble is Amani who, despite his social aloofness, is in fact a big boye, and the most defensive tank on the team, thanks to his constitution and super-healing.  He, fittingly, serves as the medic.

and yes I am ignoring the legitimate giants on the team for now

~~~

A funny dream I had months ago of @thegeminidraws oc Rai. In canon he happens to be a great artist but... in my dream, he draws with crayon and has a fondness of turtles.

MORE FLOOF FOR THE EDGELORRRD   

*tosses confetti*

(context for this one is post-story/married etc.  The rest is under the readmore, see the prompt for requests!)

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“Your bed head is really cute.”

Raicouda looked up from where he was levied over his mate, interrupting her lazy ministrations on his ears.  Pinna laughed at the look on his face, the expression somewhere between confusion and a pout.  The morning bleariness in his eyes and the russet mane that feathered out at all angles really completed the look.

“… Cute?” he demanded in a groggy voice, which only made her smile wider.

“Have I not told you, amoré?” she teased.

He shifted further up, careful to keep his weight supported on his elbows.  “Don’t sound like an accurate description...” he grumbled.

“Nonsense,” she said, “You are very cute.  The cutest, perhaps.”

He huffed, looking affronted.  Pinna tapped a reprimanding finger on his nose.

“Do not start with me, you big prickly baby... I am allowed to find you cute.”

Raicouda blanched at her choice of words, but nonetheless leaned into her palm as she sifted a hand through his hair.  Just like clockwork, her attentions brought out a deep-throated purr.

“Hm.  Just you, then, meu sirena...” he finally conceded.  He couldn’t help a placated smile as he pawed his arms into the mattress in a fluid stretch.

He sighed as Pinna gave a happy hum and continued to run her fingers through his proposed bedhead.  The late morning sun streaming through the window was almost enough to lull him back to sleep, but his mind was occupied with other musings.  Leaning on one arm, Raicouda returned to his activity – tracing senseless patterns over the bump that was just beginning to show on his mate’s midsection.

“I hope they have your hair,” Pinna spoke up, following the direction of his thoughts.  She ruffled it to accentuate the point.

He shook his head minutely. “I’m hoping they take after you...” He flicked a glance up at her.

Pinna could sense the anxiety brewing in his words, and for his sake she resisted rolling her eyes.

“No worries about that, now.  I am just fine,” she assured him.  She couldn’t help that her gaze drifted to the barbed end of his tail - its stinger thoroughly bound up in fabric.  It was a nightly ritual that her mate was adamant about.

Raicouda only frowned at her stomach, idly thumbing the callouses on the pads of his own fingers.

Pinna sighed.  “You are worrying…” she chastised in a lilting voice.  His mouth turned down at the corners as she angled his chin up to meet her gaze.

“Just… concerned,” he said. Laying his palms on either side of the swell.  “… You haven’t felt any-?”

“No kicking yet,” she interrupted the question he had already asked her a dozen times.  She tugged him up, planting a kiss on his cheek as he settled next to her.  “And no stinging either,” she added cheerily.

“Not funny,” he muttered, peppered with more of her indulgent kisses.

“Do not be so sour, amoré,” Pinna hummed.  “You know the children of your father’s side are born soft-shelled, anyway.”

“…Still.”

Pinna really did roll her eyes this time.  She pulled him in for another kiss, only letting go when she felt him relax.  She smiled as he nosed her for more attention, trailing his lips along the faded lines of her scars and down her neck.  

“… Love you…” he mumbled against the skin of her shoulder.  He turned to nuzzle the hand that had gone back to carding through his hair, letting loose another purr when she returned the sentiment.

Pinna peered down at him as he dozed back off, his breathing shallowing, and his brow uncharacteristically relaxed.  She skimmed a feather-light touch along the shell of his ear, smothering a giggle as she watched it flick in his sleep.

She fully intended to inform him that visage was, in fact, adorable.

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