𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫.

🎨 Art by: meg_mumu on Twitter.

ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ… ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ.

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

ʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴡ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ʙʀɪᴇʀꜱ, ᴛʜᴏʀɴꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏʀɴꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴛʜɪᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀꜱᴛ ɴᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴘᴀꜱꜱ... ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴇꜱ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ɪꜰ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴜʀɪᴇꜱ.

- ᴄʜᴀʀʟᴇꜱ ᴘᴇʀʀᴀᴜʟᴛ.

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

+ someone who says kindness should not feel like a chore. You make it sound very simple."

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

The bluebird leaned into her touch, tiny body going still beneath her finger as though the affection had momentarily overwritten its restless energy. Silver watched the exchange with the quiet focus +

[ً @themagicless]

⠀

“you’re just as important as him, though? ‘royal knight of briar valley’ seems like a prettyyy important title to me ~. i’m certain lilia thinks the same.”

the indignant chirp from the little winged creature elicits a soft chuckle of amusement,

⠀

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

+ feathers.

"But I will remember what you said."

His hand moved without thinking, smoothing down the stray lock of hair near his crown before he realized he'd done it.

"It is difficult to argue with +

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

"Wait for me there. If I am delayed, do not leave without me."

The warning is given plainly, without heat, as though it is simply a fact of the world that he will find her and see her home. He wouldn't take long certainly.

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

He shakes his head once, a small, decided motion.

"I will come to the library. It is on the way."

Which is true enough... the route from Diasomnia to Ramshackle loops past it anyway, and he would not have her wander alone after dark for the sake of convenience.

[ً @themagicless]

⠀

she opens her mouth to protest, but just as soon shuts it, knowing better than to argue with the unshakeable will of knight, whom in this case, has decided that he must return her simple ( in her opinion ) act of kindness.

+

⠀

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

His head tilts slightly, as if considering the second question with more care than it required.

"You are at Night Raven College. A school for those who study magic... and for those who guard them. My home is Briar Valley. But I have not returned in some time."

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

As usual of his ingenuity... Even if he didn't felt evil intent in Shu. Mainly after this offer.

"A deal, then. I will forget that you find me helpless, and you will forget that I told you so."

[ᴉɥsɐʞɐʎ∀ nɥS @S_aMazINC]

Well... If you put it that way... Yeah. But it's not normal to reveal your weakness to a monster, you know... Let's make a deal. I'll try to forget about that, so you don't seem even more helpless, okay? Anda tell me, where am I? What's the name of your... Home?

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

The one who calms you… He must be a rare friend. You honor me with the comparison. Though I suspect I would make a poor scarer in your world. I fall asleep at the worst moments...

[ᴉɥsɐʞɐʎ∀ nɥS @S_aMazINC]

It seems I've walked through a... Rare door to another world...

-The tallest one murmured again and nodded in response to the question.-

Yeah... Scarer is one of the most respected degrees in my world. I'm just continuing the family business, not doing anything special. And *

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

+ face seemed capable of producing without formal permission.

"I think your way may be the better one."

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

A quiet huff of breath left him at the title... not quite a laugh, but adjacent to one.

"Sir Vanrouge makes me sound considerably more important than I am. My father holds that title."

He reached up +

[ً @themagicless]

⠀

there is a cheeky edge that slowly appears in her smile at his response, chestnut hues glimmering as she tilts her head, waves of deep espresso swaying gently with the movement.

+

⠀

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

+ discipline to be maintained through effort. They do not account for it feeling natural."

His gaze settled on her again, and something shifted... not quite a smile, but the closest approximation his +

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

"I have patrol tonight. I can walk you back to Ramshackle after."

His expression stays level... no performance in it, just a man stating terms he means to keep.

"That is what I can offer."

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

A single shake of his head answers her.

"I do worry about it. You went out of your way. That counts for something."

He lifts the cold brew and takes a measured sip before looking at her over the rim.

[ً @themagicless]

⠀

“it’s no problem,” she replies simply, her expression lighting up all the more upon seeing the genuine smile that appears on his features at her kind gesture. it’s a heart-melting one too, surely ... she cannot help the warmth in her chest upon the sight.

+

⠀

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

A scarer...?

Then perhaps we have more in common than appearance suggests. I was raised to frighten by proximity alone. You do it deliberately. That takes more effort than people assume.

[ᴉɥsɐʞɐʎ∀ nɥS @S_aMazINC]

"Here"...

-Shu repeated it involuntarily in a murmur to himself.-

Sorry, cute kid, but your physique could never scare a scarer like me. I could say you even look... Adorable. But I won't be able to treat you with caution. That's how they usually treat me, though...

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

"Human students are common here between many others. I was… raised among fae."

His hand rises to smooth the strand back, an absent gesture.

"You find me unthreatening. That is a relief. My duty often makes others wary."

[ᴉɥsɐʞɐʎ∀ nɥS @S_aMazINC]

-A soft, nasal laugh escaped him at the contradiction between his elegant words and his friendly actions.-

Do humans study too? Then you seem like you'd be one of those good students. Because you're not scary...

[𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫. @MeetInDream_]

"Shu Ayakashi... A name I have not heard before. It is an honor."

His gaze lingers a moment, taking in the bow with quiet gravity.

"There is no need for formality. I am merely a student here."

He returns the bow slightly.

[ᴉɥsɐʞɐʎ∀ nɥS @S_aMazINC]

Oh sorry! I didn't see you, little Silver, I'm Shu Ayakashi. How are you?

-He bows his head, feeling a certain fear-respect at touching "non-monsters".-