#speargifted

here you go???

His words had not been spoken with the warmth and love that Joshua inferred. It was not his brother's fault, of course. Nothing ever was.

But truly, it wasn't. The years had taught Clive many things, but the most important lesson was to keep his thoughts to himself. No one actually wanted the real thoughts of Clive Rosfield. They wanted Cid the Outlaw. They wanted the eager, overly helpful bearer who was desperate to prove he was more than the sins of his past.

Not the real Clive. Not the hurt and angry man who still swore vengeance on those who had hurt him. The man who felt bitter regret that it had not been him to take a sword to his mother's (or his father's) throat.

For a long moment his gaze settled on his brother. The praise felt equal part unearned and patronizing, and it took all his effort to not scoff at Joshua's words-

I never felt like you were disappointed in me.

"You think so?" A low noise, something close to a soft hum, came after his words. Joshua wasn't wrong. Clive had done plenty for them, for everyone at the Hideaway. The question always came down to whether or not it was what he had wanted to do.

Send me sparklies and I'll share some nice things about you and your writing! (For @speargifted)

Cas is an enigma wrapped up in an anomoly cause given the content Cas writes you'd think they'd be meaner than they are, but Cas is such a sweet cinnamon bun who also is the realest of real ones. They also capture their muses voices really well. Like sometimes I swear I hear Sleipnir when reading their posts.

They also draw such good art? Like I am jealous of the art they make wtfuck. I wish I could draw that well.

"You overestimate how much I want you."

It was rare that Dion ever joined the happy 'family' for dinner. In fact, he was hardly ever in the capital anymore sent between battlegrounds to protect Sanbreque. Still, occasionally he was called back to the capital to be debriefed. Terence often came with him as his personal servant and retainer, at least as a cover.

In truth, Dion sort of used Terence as an emotional crutch to deal with his family. He couldn't deny it to himself that being around his family since Anabella and Joshua had joined had made things tense. It was clear Anabella was trying to push Dion off the throne and into a position she believed more fit for his someone of his... less than noble breeding.

But the people of Sanbreque were not so easily swayed to believe the Phoenix deserved the throne of Sanbreque more than the Eikon of Light, and neither did many of the noble houses. This irritated the Empress and his father making dinner a... tense affair.

He wasn't sure exactly was was the final straw for him to get up and leave dinner, but it was hard to listen to Anabella and his father prattle on and on about bloodlines and breeding. After about ten minutes of this Dion had enough and stood and left.

And it was only several minutes later that he'd realized Joshua had followed him which was a rarity given that Joshua seemed to spend all of his time trying to avoid acknowledging that Dion existed. Perhaps Anabella had sunken her claws so deep into him that even the Phoenix now believed the lies about "impure breeding".

Perhaps he had overdone it, though should a chirurgeon lay eyes on the Prince but for a moment their brows would be knitted indeed. Dion is reminded of the woman that had cared for him in the aftermath of that terrible day. Hair auburn and eyes fiery. A shudder wracks his body but it has little to do with the sudden wave of fatigue and nausea that takes him. 

He swallows hard, against rising bile, while a palm braces upon the wooden bulwark of the ship’s hull. It is not sea sickness. Beneath soiled mail and wool, his belly throbs and belies a wound not yet fully healed, despite the girl’s expertise and care.

The girl. Terence.

With a great gout of breath, Dion draws himself and brings shoulders to bear, offering a cocked smile to the Phoenix. He, who carries that cursed wretch within his breast. Nay, this is merely a mortal wound and one he has dealt with time and time again.

“Worry not, Phoenix, I am used to having sturdier ground beneath my heel.” Ever concealing. Ever the filial son. Dion gestures to the cabin door nonetheless, inviting Joshua to proceed inside ahead of him, “What of yourself? When the fiend took you and Ifrit, I feared the worst.”

//barnabas energy