@kirei-ahiru I'm your back up Santa!
It's already 2019, so this is super late >_<
I also didn't have as much time as I thought I'd have, so the drawing ended up being rather static... but you asked for domestic Dylas so... have... Dylas with apron... holding.... tomato....
There are two versions cause I cheated on the other one and used an online colorize tool... the first one is the original. I hope you like it though >_<"
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Happy super duper late holidays @jackie-kawaii !! I was your backup Santa for this years @runefactorysecretsanta ā¤ļøšā¤ļøš ((I may reupload this in a few days with a pic in better light. I just wonāt be home during daylight hours for 3 days and I didnāt want to make you wait any longer for your gift š))
Hello, @avenger-concerto !! iām your (backup) secret santa, iām so sorry it took sooo long ;n; but i hope you had a great holidays!! Some matching gfs for you!!
Heya @invaderpig Iām your Secret Santa for 2018. I want to extend my deepest apologies for posting this so late. The Holidays got hectic as hell for me back in December along with other priorities coupled with post-Holiday slump. I managed to finish this ficlet though. I had a blast working on this one. Iāve never done Doug x Frey in any fan RF4 work so I hope I captured their dynamic finely.
Wishing you a late Happy Holidays and a Happy new Year! Once more, I would like to thank @runefactorysecretsanta for hosting this event. This is my third time in a row participating and I love how it brings the RF community together.Ā
Title: Operation Knight Song
Genre(s): Slice of life, romance, fluff, comedy, some drama
Pairings / ships: Doug x Frey and Margaret / Meg x Forte
Rating: T (13 and up) - mild profanity, some innuendos / suggestive jokes but nothing extreme.
Summary:Ā DuringĀ the Night of Holies in Selphia, Doug and Frey help Forte confess to the love of her life in a group outing.
Word count:Ā 3813 words.
It was the snowy and star-lit evening of Winter the 24th in the independent town of Selphia. More specifically, it was the eve which preceded Christmas day: the Night of Holies.
Usually, it was tradition for the natives of Norad and by extension Selphia to celebrate the evening in peaceful solace and tranquility. In addition, it was known as a night perfect for romantic rendezvous and evening dates. It was all the more true for the Night of Holies this particular year.
Within the grand halls of Selphia Castle, the princess and her first man hurriedly prepared for what the former codenamed as āOperation Knight Songā.
āDoug, weāre going to be late. Cāmon youāre taking too long! They might have arrived at the plaza alreadyā¦ā
āHold on, dear. Ngh, this jacketās too huge! I have no idea what size Volkanon picked out but itās taking me longer than usual toā¦ā
āOk, less complaining, more moving or weāre gonna be late. We donāt want to keep them waiting, right?ā
āWait dear, Iām finished!!ā
In a frenzied but enthusiastic rush, Princess Freyās husband: Doug, descended from the 2nd floor of their living area with a pair of black pants, brown snowboots and a crimson colored jacket. Despite his previous complaints, it turns out the jacket was just about the right size as shown through his satisfied grin.
āWell, how do I look?ā the red-head dwarf asked between gasping breaths.
āYou look fantastic!ā Frey chirped with a smiled as she clapped her hands together. āWhat do you think of mine now? Dolce and Clorica helped pick this out for me the other day. We had it custom tailored and ordered from Noradās capital.ā
Doug took another look at his wifeās snow-friendly attire which consisted of a beautiful black coat accompanied by an emerald coloured Wooly fur snow cap with both pieces complimented by an illustrious snow white scarf. For the evening, Frey had also undid her twin-tails, letting her long and beautiful emerald hair down.
āStunning, I dunno what else to say.ā Doug widened his eyes while his lips formed what could easily be described as a dreamy yet flustered smile.
āHoooooh? Flirting this early on in the Night of Holies?ā Frey snickered as she motion towards her husband, clinging onto his arm playfully. āI guess you are desperate for a spot within Santaās Naughty List.ā
āGahhh, cut it out!ā Doug yelped, his objections contradicting his now reddened cheeks. āN-not that I mind but not this early either, h-hahaā¦ā
āThis blockhead,ā Frey whimsically thought, āWonder how weāre gonna have kids at this rate?ā
Doug spoke, āSo uh, what about Ventuswill?ā
āSheās fast asleep.ā she informed her husband, āI had Clorica and Vishnal prepare her a cup of hot milk and a serving of pancakes. Venti wanted to go to bed early so she wouldnāt wake up late and miss the Christmas festivities.ā
āAlright! Now thatās all settledā¦Letās head out then, shall we?ā Doug smiled coolly, extending his hand out.
Frey giggled slightly as she took her husband by the hand. āOf course. As the high princess of Selphia, Operation Knight Song will not fail!ā
For the sake of some yuletide context in this given Night of Holies and by extension āOperation Knight Songā, it is commonly well known in Selphia that there were two individuals who helped push the princess together with the hotheaded dwarf shopkeep of the general store. The honour went to none other than Margaret or by her nickname: Meg, the gentle elf musician of Porcolineās Kitchen and Forte, the dashing and valiant head knight of the town.
Meg acted as a wingwoman of sorts to her close friend Frey and it was Forte who was always there to convince Doug to get his act together when it mattered the most. Theyāve both remained strong family friends to Selphiaās royal couple ever since.
Of course, there is much more to this story and Frey herself knew it very well. Throughout this all Meg and Forte remained close friends. Relegating the overall feeling to āfriendshipā was a massive underestimation, so to speak. In realityā¦
āForte, Meg! Weāre here!ā Frey excitingly called out as she and her husband approached the two figures waiting outside on the snowy centre of Selphia plaza.
āGood evening you two!ā Margaret waved her hand and approached the couple, giving Frey an affectionate hug afterwards. āOhmigosh, you both look so adorable!ā
āAwwwww, thank you!ā Frey squeed in delight. āYouāre looking stylish too Meg. Same goes to you, Forte!ā
āN-no, Iām not in need for any compliment whatsoeverā¦ā the blonde and tall knight mumbled. āI just put on a new cape that Kiel bought me. If anything, Meg looks so much better.ā
Margaret wore her usual outfit but this time adorned with an azure mantle cloak, a kind of fashion that was common in the Nation of Elves as well as a checkered scarf which Forte had given her as a birthday present earlier in the year.
Forte had her usual armour equipped with additional protection from the winter evening including the aforementioned new cape which her younger brother had given her as a present. Outing or not, a knight had to remain prepared for anything. Whether it would be against monsters, immediate threatsā¦or confessing to the love of her life.
āGreat, then weāre all gearing to go.ā Frey raised her fist into the air. āOnward to the observatory!ā
āHey, be careful or youāre going to trip!ā Doug called out as his energetic spouse went on ahead. āHonestly, some things never changeā¦ā
āYou seem rather excited yourself.ā Forte commented with a half-smile on her face. āNot as enthusiastic as Frey but still.ā
āYeah, yeah yeahā¦So, youāre ready for this?ā the dwarf gazed at the knight whose cheeks became flushed with pink not soon after. āI mean, you can do it any other time of the year but if you want to leave a lasting impression, itās now or never.ā
āUm, I know that!ā Forte answered with a determined voice.
āWhat do you know exactly, Forte?ā Meg curiously tapped her on the shoulders, resulting in a brief but alarmed shriek.
āM-MEG?! UHHH NOTHING!! WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Just about how we should enjoy the Night of Holies b-because it only comes once a year. Yeah, itās like that.ā
āWell, best we get a move on. The snow might stop at any moment and I want to bask in this blissful scenery as much as possible. I saw Frey rush past your house already.ā Meg stated while pointing to the western-most exit of the plaza.
āR-rightā¦ā Forte nodded as she followed Margaret down the steps leading to the townās western residential district.
Doug was left alone in his thoughts for the time being. āMan, I know Frey wants to thank them for everything theyāve done for both of us butā¦this is something out of a romcom novel that Granny Blossom keeps inside her old shelves.ā
Freyās eccentrically named plan, āOperation Knight Songā had one and only one singular goal: successfully get Forte to ask Meg out. This wasnāt anything platonic or familial either.
Another piece of information that was common to most of the townās inner circle was that Forte being madly in love for Selphiaās star musician, Margaret.
As a knight, romance or intimacy was not within her scope of immediate prioritization. Those never crossed her mind as much as it did for the other girls in town especially during their seasonal sleep over gatherings.
Yet Margaret came into Forteās life and ever since then her existence alone did just about everything to question the knightās supposed heterosexuality.
There are numerous reasons as to how the elven musician had stolen the knightās heart but even then she couldnāt list all of them properly without breaking down into an awkward, stuttering and anxious mess. Meg was resourceful, hardworking, beautiful, compassionate, charismatic, somewhat of a dorky odd-ball, both shared some latent fear of phantoms (Pico was the prime exception) and Forteās mental list could go on and on.
Forte was content simply just remaining close friends with the musician but as the months and years went by it became clear that she couldnāt deny her own feelings any further.
It started out with simpler things such as her regular compliments towards Meg becoming more frequent in nature. It was followed with other small instances such as their hands brushing against each other by accident on several occasions or noticing the aromatic scent of her hair on a more regular basis. Afterwards, it all escalated to much greater physical contact such as sitting awkwardly as Meg fell asleep next to her on the bench during one late afternoon after work.
It reached an apex when the musician casually kiss the knight on the cheek during her birthday. All Frey and Doug could recall was that Forte was reduced to a stuttering, flustered mess that same day.
A few weeks later, the knight confided with the royal couple that she could no longer deny the feelings sheās harboured for Meg and declared her resolved intention to confess.
Needless to say, Frey 100% supported the proposition alongside her husband, even if the latter wasnāt too enthusiastic about lowkey stalking their Night of Holies date in the guise of a group outing.
Doug sighed and hurried to catch up with the rest of the group. Even if he wanted to, it was too late to turn back now.
Within the top floor of the windmill observatoryās interior, Doug had finally caught up as his wife handed out the hot beverages and snacks she had prepared for them all prior to leaving.
āI brought along some hot cocoa and choco cookies.ā Frey pulled out four heated thermos containers and a plate of chocolate chip-cookies from her picnic basket. āI have a few bottles of Prelude to Love in here too that I brewed up during these past few days if youād like some later tonight Meg.ā
āThat would be lovely, thanks!ā Meg cheerfully replied.
āDoug and I are gonna go head down now.ā Frey announced suddenly, āOops, you seeā¦uhhhā¦turns out I forgot a few extra cloaks and blankets, incase for when it gets colder tonightā¦Y-yeah.ā
āWait, we just got up here!ā Doug stuttered in an alarmed fashion. āAlso, I brought us some blankets and cloaks in my bagā¦AGH.ā
Frey interrupted her husbandās objections by playfully pinching him on his bottom. He played along as a result. āUhhh, I mean yeah. I totally forgot them. H-haha, oops.ā
āWeāll be right back in a jiffy, ok? I left the hot drinks and cookies near the benches next to the outer entry. Help yourselves!ā Frey playfully declared as she and Doug descended down the stairs.
Forte sighed. She knew very well that the entire thing was a copout ruse to make sure she and Meg were alone. She appreciated the sentiment but wished as well that the couple didnāt have to sacrifice a part of their romantic evening to help her confess the feelings sheās held for so long towards the beautiful elven musician who stood nearby.
āAhem. Ummm, mind if we step outside? I want to take a good look at view right now.ā Forte somewhat nervously proposed.
āHmm? Sure thing. The snowy evening view probably goes great with the hot cocoa.ā
āSo easily. What about your fear of heights, Meg?ā
Meg giggled lightly and responded, āWhy would I be worried about that? Especially when I have you by my side?ā
Forte couldnāt help but melt internally and smile at the sentiment. She extended her arm out towards Meg, offering her hand. āWell then, shall we?ā
āWowwww!!ā Meg gasped in delight. As they walked into the exterior viewing balcony of the observatory, the sight of a tranquil snowy evening glittered with the night skyās stars awaited them both. āIāve been to this observatory countless of times but the viewās always amazingā¦ā
āAnd to think you were afraid of coming here, let alone of setting foot into the observatoryās top floor because of your fear of heightsā¦ā Forte teased slightly and continued. āā¦Iām glad youāre enjoying the view these days.ā
āUh huhā¦ā Meg nodded enthusiastically while she opened up her drink. Taking a light sip, she sighed happily. āAhhh, this is heaven. Iām not big of a chocolate lover as much as Dolce but this alongside he winter evening is pure utter blissā¦ā
āIndeed,ā Forte agreed, taking small sips of her hot cocoa while her gaze was transfixed between both the view and at Meg herself. āThis reminds me of my childhoodā¦Our parents always used to make us hot cocoa on winter evenings. My mother was practically a master at the craft and it was one of the many things that warmed our father up after his snowy evening patrolsā¦ā
āForteā¦ā
āTheyāre both gone now. However, what isnāt are the memories they left behind for Kiel and I. For that reasonā¦I want to keep living on, protecting those I hold dear andā¦well, continue to make even happier memories with the people I care for.ā Forte uttered the last part out with a faint blush.
āAwwwww, thatās so sweetā¦ā Margaret softly said, hugging the knight from the side. The surprise was almost enough to let her drop the hot cocoa she had been handling finely.
āEEEEEK!! M-megā¦please.ā Forte staggered, āI could have spilled something hot on either of us⦠be more carefulā¦ā
āSorry, I couldnāt help it,ā she laughed gingerly, breaking the hug. āI really am happy thoughā¦to be here. Happy to be with you allā¦thatās all.ā
āHmmm? Is something the matter?ā
āWell, just thatā¦When I first came to Selphia, truth to be told: I was afraid. Porcoline had recently taken me under his wing at the timeā¦I knew nobody in town. I wasnāt sure if I could open my heart up so easily. Especially somewhere so far away from homeā¦Then I met you, Lumie, Venti, Dylas, Arthur, Frey and everyoneā¦I fell in love with this town soon afterwards. Itās far from my birthplace butā¦Selphiaās my home. I wouldnāt have it any other way andā¦Iām just so thankful to be here with you all.ā
āMegā¦ā
Meg sighed trying to shake away what was a bittersweet smile on her lips just moments ago, āā¦Sorry, I got over sentimental again. Winter evenings like this remind me of my homeland a bit, I couldnāt help it. Anyways, why donāt I play us a song?ā
Now was the time, Forte realized.
āUhhh Megā¦lookā¦Iā¦thereās something I need toā¦uh, wellā¦ā
āHuh? You want me to play a Christmas song? Ok, Iāll thinkā¦Silent Night or Jingle Bellsā¦I want to see how it works on my harpā¦ā
āNo, thatās not it, I wanted to say thatā¦umā¦ā
āWait, neither of those songs? Well, Iāll just play us Joy to the World andā¦ā
Forte bit her lip in frustration. Her thoughts raced insanely as her heartbeat rose sharply. āForte, itās now or never.ā
āI got it! Iāll go play us Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, that was a classic my old teacher taught meā¦ā
āMeg, please listen to me: I love you.ā
ā...Huh?ā
As the knight uttered those very words from her lips, itās almost as if time itself had stopped in its tracks that winter-clad evening. Megās expression went from that of her usually cheerful eccentric one to that of pure speechlessness.
āI donāt mean as a friend or as a sister. Megā¦look, I love you as a woman. Romantically. Youāre caring, knowledgable, talented, compassionate, empowering, warm and just pleasant to be around everyday. My chest has been racing as of lately just being next to youā¦I donāt know what else to sayā¦ā
āForteā¦is this true?ā Meg blinked while a tint of red began slowly surfacing from her own cheeks.
āYes, itās all true. I was scared prior to thisā¦Weāre both girls and I have no idea how your culture does itā¦hell, Iām not even sure how my parents would react if they could see this but I donāt care! As a knight of Ventuswill and all of Selphia, Iām not going to hold my feelings back in front of the woman I love, damn it!ā
Once more, Forte was met with a silent and blank response from the musician. Fearing it amounted to nothing but a potential awkward rejection, she steeled herself for what was next. She walked into this knowing that heartbreak might be a viable outcome but she would rather have professed her feelings than hold her silence forever.
āIām sorryā¦who was I kidding. Just pretend I said nothing, pleaseā¦Regardless, I want us to remain friends andā¦ā
āYou idiotā¦ā Meg gritted her teeth, glaring with tears in her eyes.
Forte wasnāt given much room to react as Meg tightly embraced her as if it would be their last.
āM-megā¦?!ā
āHonestlyā¦you blockheadā¦ā she sniffled, keeping her arms wrapped around the knight tightly. āTook you long enoughā¦! Iām so happyā¦Iām so glad you feel the same wayā¦ā
āFeel the same wayā¦y-youā¦you meanā¦?ā
āYesā¦butā¦Iām afraid too. Not because weāre both girls. I donāt care about that at allā¦itās because Iām an elf. Youāre human.ā
āWhat if you are an elf? I care nothing about that. I know there are places in Norad that ostracize your people but Iām notā¦ā
āItās not that!ā Meg cried out as she continued to cling onto Forte. She blinked through her tears and continued, āItās much more complicated. You know that elves live longer than humans do. What if you go before meā¦? Youāre a knightā¦Youāve already pledged your life to the sword. Your line of work makes it so that youāre ready for death at any given moment. If you die before me and I have to live out the remainder of my existence in this world without youā¦Iā¦ā
āMegā¦ā Forte whispered, āYouāre not wrong. Iāve devoted my life to the path of the sword. The sword is nothing more than an extension to my real devotion: those who I care for. You included most of all. Youāre rightā¦maybe I could fall in battle or I might succumb to illness, who knows what the future has in store butā¦Iād rather face those dangers while protecting and loving youā¦ā
āForteā¦ā
āI know we have to go slow of courseā¦I-if you say yes, that is!ā Forte stammered but regained her verbal composure right after. āGoing moderately is the key but my feelings for you are genuineā¦Megā¦I want to be your knight and dedicate my sword to you. B-by thatā¦I want to be your girlfriend. W-wellā¦?ā
It wasnāt too long after that the musicianās anxious tears were immediately replaced with tearful giggles as she broke her embrace. āHonestly, do all knights have to confess like this? I donāt even want to know what the marriage proposal would be likeā¦!ā
āH-hey, I was being seriousā¦ā
āI know, Forte. I know very wellā¦Therefore, my answer is: I accept!ā Meg spoke out the last part with a cheerful grin as she wiped the last of her tears away.
āHuh?! Meg, are you sure about this?ā
āMore sure than Iāve ever been in my entire life. Not going to lie: Iām still anxiousā¦I have no idea what awaits us butā¦with my brave and dashing girlfriend by my side, I have nothing to fear.ā
āMegā¦ughā¦Iā¦ā Forte attempted to choke back a sob as tears welled up her own eyes. She stepped forward and gave her beloved a firm embrace. She sobbed softly between sniffles and hiccups, āNghā¦Iām so happyā¦I was afraid thatā¦ughā¦Megā¦I love you! I love you so much!ā
Reciprocating the embrace, Meg giggled softly as she comforted the sobbing knight. āYou big dorkā¦I love you tooā¦donāt panic. Even if I said no, I wasnāt going to leave you behind eitherā¦Youāre precious to me no matter whatā¦ā
āSorryā¦I shouldnāt have lost my composure like that. It was unknightly of me, so to speak.ā Forte calmed down as Meg wiped her tears away.
āI dunno, I have absolutely no problems seeing this side of you either.ā Meg playfully teased.
āHey!! Ughā¦youāve always been unpredictable at times, you know that?ā
āMaybe. Maybe notā¦I wanna do something else unpredictable, of course.ā
Forte swallowed a lump as her heart raced once more. āWell, what would that be?ā
Kiss.
Eyes still widened, Forte stared blankly as Megās lips parted from hers in a quick but blissful instant. āMerry Christmas Forte. I love you.ā
āAh.ā Forte said aloud and continued. āAh. Ah. Ahhhhh.ā
Thud.
āOh my gosh, Forte!!ā Meg cried out in horror as she witnessed her newly confessed girlfriend dropping to her knees. She immediately knelt down herself cradled the flustered knight around her arms. āAre you okay?! Do you have a fever?! Are you tired?!ā
Meg was all the more puzzled as she witnessed Forteās unconscious but dreamy eyed and flustered expression. It was as if she had gone to heaven and ascended into a higher plane of goddesshood.
āHonestlyā¦I need to get us both inside ASAP. Canāt have my girlfriend fainting outside here.ā
Unbeknownst to either of them, the royal couple stood quietly in wait within the observatoryās interior in a floor below.
āFufufufuā¦looks like Operation Knight Song was a grand success.ā Frey sheepishly giggled. āMission accomplished!ā
āUhhhhhā¦We did absolutely nothing besides eavesdrop.ā Doug informed in a deadpan tone.
āCāmon, dear. We promised to be backup for Forte incase she froze up but looks like she didnāt need our help. Thatās my Forte, hahaā¦ā
āWell, Iām happy for them both. That much Iāll say. I think we need to go up there before Forte freaks out any further.ā Doug proposed but his intentions were interrupted by the mischievous princess holding up a mistletoe over both their heads.
āOh hell no. Dear, please. Not nowā¦w-wait until home at least!!ā the fiery red-head dwarf took a step back, panicking.
āAwwwww, donāt be like that.ā Frey licked her lips. āItās almost midnight. Besides, I want to give Forte and Meg some time to themselves while I have my own little funā¦ā
Doug swallowed hard, laughing nervously. He had no intention of denying his playful wifeās advances but he braced himself for what came next. This of course consisted of Frey pouncing on her husband and showering him with cuddles and a flurry of kisses over his face and neck.
Overall, it was just another snowy, heated, chaotic but romantic Night of Holies in Selphia.
happy new yearĀ @meatbunknight! iām your (very late) secret santa!ć¾(tdĻd)ļ½¼*:ć»ļ¾ā§
iāve never played tides of destiny myself, so i loosely referenced some of odette and elenaās talk animations; i hope i did your girls justice!ā( dć d)Łā§
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a very belated merry christmas and happy new year to @moonkisseddreamerā !!Ā i loved all your requests, and went with the one for raguna/bianca.
which.... as a quick foreword of a disclaimer... iāve sadly played little to nothing of frontier, so this is mostly based off raguna and bianca in the original game with some stuff influenced from what iāve read about frontier on the wiki.Ā and i took some... liberties with certain elements of both games.Ā but, well - i hope you enjoy!
+ read on ao3
Itās a well known fact that Bianca does not like being given gifts. Ā Theyāre a useless and meaningless gesture to her. Ā Sheās rich enough to buy most anything she would possibly want, or that someone might be able to give her. Ā What she much prefers is simply having someoneās company, someone to be able to talk to and call a friend. Ā That comes as a lot more of a comfort than a material possession.
Sheās standing in the kitchen of the house she shares with Raguna, waiting for him to come back inside from tending to his monsters. Ā Even a holiday canāt stop him from the work that needs to be done, not that Bianca would dream of asking him to take a break or ignore his pets. Ā She knows from taking care of Francoise, and from everything Tabatha had ingrained in her, just how important it is. Ā Many could rightfully accuse Bianca of being selfish, but being cruel to a pet goes beyond that.
A smile comes to the girlās face as she sees her boyfriend finally heading back to the house. Ā While heād been outside, Bianca had been busy baking a cake, and itās nearly ready to eat. Ā Of course, thereās nothing in the way of an actual meal besides, but actual cooking was always going to be more of Ragunaās forte than hers.
Thereās a light dusting of snow in Ragunaās hair as steps into the house, and a rush of cold air follows him in. Ā Bianca shivers, her smile briefly turning to a frown as she snaps at him, āClose the door.ā Ā Raguna simply gives her a rueful smile, and gently shuts the door behind him. Ā He knows her, and knows that sheās not trying to be mean.
He crosses over to her before giving her a brief kiss, which is when Bianca notices that heās carefully holding something behind him. Ā She pulls away, looking at him a bit accusingly, trying to see what it is heās holding, before she speaks. Ā āThat better not be a gift for me. Ā Whatever it is, I donāt want it.ā Ā In this moment, she has everything she wants. Ā Thereās nothing he could possibly give her to make it better.
āI think you might want it,ā Raguna says in return, smiling at her. Ā Biancaās expression quickly turns to being decidedly unimpressed. Ā She opens her mouth to retort, to say that she doesnāt, but he moves too quickly, pulling a ring out from behind him.
Her train of thought comes to an immediate screeching halt as her gaze flicks between Raguna and the ring. Ā She knows what it means, knows what heās asking, but she hadnāt imagined heād ever want this. Ā Itās a subject sheās never even brought up before - as selfish as she is, and as much as she would love to spend the rest of her life with him, Bianca always thought a day would come where heād get sick of her and her attitude. Ā But this - this is him saying that he wants her and to be around her, regardless, forever.
Thereās snow covering the ground outside, and the world seems to stand still but for a moment. Ā Bianca can scarcely believe this is happening, and for once, she settles easily into silence if only to give Raguna a chance to actually speak and ask her.
Thereās a falter, a bit of hesitation, as Raguna begins to speak, as if he expects Bianca to interrupt him. Ā As if heās unsure of what to say. Ā āBianca⦠will you give me the privilege of spending the rest of my life with you? Ā Will you marry me?ā
She smiles, large and genuine, before replying, āYes, yes I will.ā Ā If thereās a few happy tears shining in her eyes, Raguna knows better than to comment on them. Ā āBut - are you sure you want to spend that much time with me? Ā I know Iām not the nicest person around.ā
āThereās no one else Iād rather have by side for the rest of forever,ā he says, a happy smile on his face. Ā He slips the ring on her finger, and theyāre both ecstatic to find that it fits perfectly, no alterations needed. Ā Thereās preparations and plans that will need to be made, an endless list of things that need to be done. Ā But for the moment, the couple needs only each other - and maybe the cake still sitting on the kitchen counter.
A little late, but Happy Holidays @pokemonacademy ! Hereās LeonxFrey during winter, featuring Noelās artistic representation of his fatherās monster form -w-
Well, here it is at last. @sakurai-sanxiceland I hope you like your secret santa!
And shout out to @runefactorysecretsanta for hosting this event every year. I love doing the secret santa bc it pushes me to meet deadlines and sometimes work with characters or relationships I havenāt before. I really appreciate what you do for the fandom!
The fic is under the cut.
The poster was fresh off the press. Towards the top was a picture of Kielās face, smile wide and welcoming. Below the photo, large, black words jumped off the page, daring those nearby not to read them.
Book Signing with Kiel Winter 3-4 at 11 a.m. in Bell Hotel Lobby
Leon stared at it, dumbfounded. āI hope he doesnāt expect us to get a book signed by him.ā
Forte rolled her eyes. āYouāll go get a book signed by him and you know it.ā She continued to stare at the picture of her brother. He looked older than he had a year ago, since they last saw him in person. Leon pouted. He didnāt like her reaction much. Was he losing his talent in flustering people or was Forte starting to grow immune? No, impossible. Forte could never. He just needed to push a little harder.
Leon got her attention back on him by shrugging. āIām sure I can find something in my possession that Kiel wrote his name on. He was a nosy little gremlin when he was younger.ā Leon didnāt bother to hide his smirk when Forte turned to him with her eyebrows furrowed.
āLin Fa told me after Kielās last book came out you stayed up all night reading it,ā Forte stated slowly, unsure of what Leon would do next.
Leon decided to shrug again. If there was one thing Forte disliked, it was indifference. āIām sure heās still a nosy little gremlin. āIāll invite him over some other time and heāll be more than happy to write his name on something. I donāt need to go to the book signing.ā
An angry red flushed Forteās cheeks and her eyes narrowed. Leon grinned. This was his favorite part of teasing people. He loved the moment he fooled someone into believing his words only to pull the rug from under them a moment later.
āYou have to be at Kielās book signing!ā she insisted, fists clenched. āEven if you donāt get anything signed by him you should still be his emotional support. He looks up to you!ā
āOkay,ā Leon simply stated and watched as the color left Forteās cheeks and her eyes rounded out again.
There was a brief pause before Forte asked, āWhat?ā
āOkay,ā Leon repeated. āIāll go. You convinced me.ā
The color that had just left Forteās cheeks returned as she figured out she had been tricked. This time the crimson took over her entire face.
Without saying goodbye, Leon turned around and walked away before Forte could start yelling at him again. Although, that part was fun too. She was always too flustered to form her words correctly and it made her even more flustered. It was a vicious cycle that was live entertainment for Leon.
Today, however, he had better things to prepare for.
āSo, are you going to the book signing?ā Leon watched as the long-haired man across from him sighed and put down his drink. It was rush hour at Porcolineās restaurant, so most tables were full and the noise was on a level that had Dylasās eye twitching as he went from table to table. That was a different long-haired man, however, than the one that currently looked too tired to put up with Leon today.
āWhy are you sitting here?ā Barrett asked. His lunch was only partly eaten and he hadnāt taken a bite since Leon sat down. Maybe it was his way of telling Leon to leave. Besides the obvious displeased tone of voice, of course.
āIām sitting here because I wanted to ask you a question,ā Leon answered. āWhich youāre not getting out of, by the way. Youāre not as clever as a fox like me.ā Barrett sat still, not reacting to Leonās behavior.
Fine then, Leon thought. Heās not that fun to tease anyway.
āI figured since Kiel interviewed you for the book that youād be willing to go to the signing,ā Leon said, finally getting to his point.
Barrett sighed and Leon could see him relax, if only slightly. Most people had that reaction when they realized Leon wouldnāt be targeting them at the moment. āYes, Iāll be going,ā he admitted. āMy son really wants a signed copy since Iām in it.ā
āAnd quite a lot, if I remember correctly,ā Leon smirked as Barrett grimaced. As much as Barrett hated the attention of the public, it was true. Kielās book was a biography of the events that transpired in Alvarna less than a decade ago. It was an inspiring read that Leon will never admit made him cry.
A few years ago, Kiel came to Leon with an idea. He wanted to write a biography about Ventuswill and Frey and their adventures and struggles. He wanted to study Earthmates and conduct interviews and actually do something with his passion for books that could potentially help people.
Leon was surprised at first. Just the day before Kiel had seemed content living life as he always had: reading and gossiping and cooking for his sister. However, Leon could tell from the look in his eyes that this was something Kiel really wanted. Maybe even needed. Leon still had some doubts. Kiel often unintentionally spread false rumors and Leon didnāt want his book to turn out the same way.
Thatās why Leon kept a close eye on Kielās progress. He read through many rough drafts and even sat through several interviews. Of course, he himself had been interviewed. When the book was completed, it was strange to see his own words on paper, quotes that Kiel had deemed worthy of being immortalized.
And best of all, Leonās fears were unfounded. Kiel didnāt stretch any truths. He stated facts and added flowery language where he could. Despite the fact that Leon had been there for the whole experience, he read the finished product like it was a new fiction novel.
The success of Kielās first book made him happier than Leon had ever seen him, and he was already a ball of sunshine.
One evening, Kiel confided in him that his happiness largely came from finally being able to help Forte financially. She made a good income from her career as a knight, but Kiel hated when she worried, even if it was over little things. Plus, it made him feel like an actual adult.
A few months later Kiel announced his next project: a biography about the events surrounding Fiersome in Alvarna. The topic came up when he was interviewing Barrett for his first book and he immediately knew he had to look into it as well. He packed his bags and left for Alvarna to research and interview and write.
It was just as good as the first one, in Leonās opinion. Though he may be biased considering he knew how torturous those hours of being questioned by Kiel must have been for Barrett.
Leon wished he had been there. Why wasnāt he there? He should have gone with Kiel. It wasnāt like he had anything better to do anyway.
Well, at least he got to watch Barrett squirm now.
āYes, Iām in it a lot,ā Barrett broke Leon out of his thoughts. It almost sounded like he was gritting his teeth. āIs there another point youāre trying to make?ā
Leon shrugged. āNah. Iāll see you there.ā He then stood and left his seat. At least he got the final word in, and hey, Barrett even almost looked baffled at his sudden departure. He was so busy imprinting Barrettās face to memory that he didnāt even see the figure walking through the door.
āOof!ā A familiar voice huffed as a body ran straight into Leon, their head hitting his chin. The person quickly pushed away, muttering apologies as Leon rubbed his chin. Then he heard a gasp. āLeon!ā
Leonās head jerked up and the pain was forgotten. In front of him stood Kiel. His eyes were as big and innocent as usual, but his hair had grown significantly. There were pins crammed all over his head attempting to hold his hair back. Someone needed to teach this kid about hair gel.
Later, though. For now, Leon wanted to reminisce. āKid!ā he exclaimed, throwing his arm around the shorter boyās shoulder and rubbing his hair. āI didnāt think youād be back so soon.ā
Kiel giggled as his hair was messed with, then shot Leon a blinding smile. āYeah, well, I was homesick, so I came early.ā
Leon chuckled. Kiel couldnāt even pretend to be embarrassed that he missed everyone. That was one of the most refreshing parts of Kielās personality. He was so unapologetically himself.
āWhat about your previous book signing? Youāre on a big tour, arenāt you?ā
Now Kiel looked bashful. āUh, yeah, but Iād actually scheduled to be there for a few extra days for sightseeing. I decided Iād rather come home. Itās my birthday soon, after all.ā
The smile on Leonās face grew from teasing to soft. Damn, this kid had to be the most sincere human in Norad.
āWell, Iām glad youāre back,ā Leon admitted. Because Selphiaās final puzzle piece has been put back into place, he thought.
Then they went back to Kiel and Forteās house. Leon would sit in the corner as the two siblings caught up, pretending to be only half-listening. Heād give it away by interrupting Forteās stories with his own about the time she fell down the stairs in the inn or tried to use her sword to cut her bread. Sheād turn red and Kiel would crack up. Eventually Bado would come over for dinner and theyād all chat for several more hours (Bado didnāt actually want to hear about the blacksmith in Alvarna, but Forte made Kiel recount everything he knew about her so Bado could ālearn somethingā). Then Kiel would fall asleep in his chair and Forte would quietly usher Leon and Bado out of the house before they could terrorize him somehow. Leon would lay in his bed and close his eyes and smile because everything would be as it should.