𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪

𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘸𝘯.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

𖦹」ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀᴜᴛᴜᴍɴ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ꜰʟᴇꜱʜ—
⠀⠀⠀[ ʀᴜꜱꜱᴇᴛ ʜᴀɪʀ 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞]
ᴀᴍʙᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴜɴɴɪɴɢ
ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ᴀꜱ 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐔𝐋
ᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗦. 「𖦹

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

@daughtercfash —like.
He smiled into her hair.
“Thank you… for reminding me.”

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

@daughtercfash “I’ve missed you,” he admitted, the confession barely louder than a whisper. “More than I ever allowed myself to say.”

His chin rested lightly against the crown of her head, a small smile pulling at his lips despite the sting behind his eye.

“I’d forgotten what home felt—

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

—regret leaving you behind. I regret every moment I wondered if you were still alive and had no way of knowing. But I could…never— regret that you’re here now.”

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

Her words struck harder than any blade could. His throat tightened, guilt washing over him. For a long moment, he couldn’t speak.

“You don’t get to carry that regret alone,” he said at last, his voice scarcely above a whisper. “If anyone should be apologizing… it’s me. I—

[— 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 @daughtercfash]

A faint blush tinted her cheeks, blue eyes gazing towards the ground.

‘ it’s because at the time.. we /didn’t/ have anything else to cling to.

And when under the mountain hit.. those words really seemed to be the only thing that ever kept me goin.

But I found new things, -

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

—told myself it was better if I left. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was coward. Maybe I couldnt watch another person suffer because of me. But you survived. You left. And you found me too.”

He squeezes her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles, his voice cracking.

I—

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

—didn’t have anything else to cling to.”

His thumb brushed absently across the back of her hand.

“I suppose I’ll keep hoping. If you promise to do the same.”

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

“Tomorrow’s a new day,” he echoed, the old phrase settling somewhere deep in his chest. He hadn’t heard it spoken aloud in far too long.

A faint genuine smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, despite the exhaustion behind it.

“I used to think we only repeated it because we—

[— 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 @daughtercfash]

Taking Lucien’s hand, knowing exactly how he felt.

‘ you remember our old saying? The one we used to keep ourselves hopeful during the darker times?

Tomorrow’s a new day.. don’t give up, keep hoping. ’

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

Bonfire Barbie? That’s a new one.

I wasn’t planning on telling Tamlin anything. These days, silence tends to keep the peace better than honesty ever did.

[—; 𝒮ʟᴀɪɴᴇ 𝒢ʀᴀᴠᴇs ˎˊ˗ Little Enigma @FlaringHumanity]

Preferential treatment from Bonfire Barbie. Hmm, a female could get used to this.

Just don't tell Tamlin, he'll have a hissy fit and I'm not sure who he'd be most jealous of, you or I.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

How 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 of you to worry.

Though if the centuries are settling scores, I’d think they’d come knocking at your door long before mine.

[ᅠᅠᅠᅠ𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀,ᅠ𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐒.ᅠᅠᅠ @GlLDEDFLAMES]

ᅠᅠᅠᅠ

Careful now, little brother. Centuries may finally start collecting their debt.

ᅠᅠᅠᅠ

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

ᴼʰ ᵍᵒᵈˢ ʰᵉ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᵐᵉ

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

Hes hearing things, ignore him.

He’ll buy his own. And if she doesn’t mind, he’ll buy her a drink as well. As a thank you for the distraction. And emotional support.

[—; 𝒮ʟᴀɪɴᴇ 𝒢ʀᴀᴠᴇs ˎˊ˗ Little Enigma @FlaringHumanity]

The fox shouldn't have heard anything to begin with.
But I'm also not your bartender so you can either mix your own or buy your own at the local tavern.

Heck, I'll even throw a song in.

I'm there for emotional support, not manual labor.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

He barked out a laugh.

Whiny? I’ll have you know I’m an emissary. We prefer the term 𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥.

[𝔣𝔢𝔶𝔯𝔢, 𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 @beaconofnight]

as dramatic as them, too, lucien. is it the fire in your blood? or are all males just born this whiny?

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

“Good. That’s—that’s good. The farther you are from there the better.”

His smile wavered when she asked how he was. Should he answer honestly?

“I’ve been well. Depending on the day. But overall surviving.”

[— 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 @daughtercfash]

‘ I’m out of the autumn court for now.. so yes, I’m well for now. ’ she nods.

‘ come, enough of me. Tell me how you’re fairing? ’

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

. . .

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

He’s going to pray he heard that first part wrong.
Cauldron boil him—

A very strong drink. Please.

[—; 𝒮ʟᴀɪɴᴇ 𝒢ʀᴀᴠᴇs ˎˊ˗ Little Enigma @FlaringHumanity]

...
...

OH you mean like — me? HAHA (isecretlyenjoyederisnipplesshhhh)

Let's buy you a drink, Inferno Ken. Before you set fire to Prince of the Leaf Pile's hair, or something.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

He takes her hand to get up with her help.

“As well as you can be?” He repeats, not sure if he should press the topic further.

[— 𝐄𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 @daughtercfash]

Giving him a playful look upon hearing his old nickname. Nudging him gently before shifting to stand, offering her hand to aid him up.

‘ as well as I can be, ’

meaning, the same as if can, and most likely always will be..

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

It’s a normal reaction to have!

Ginger Snap may need a distraction yes—

[—; 𝒮ʟᴀɪɴᴇ 𝒢ʀᴀᴠᴇs ˎˊ˗ Little Enigma @FlaringHumanity]

Sitting still and watching Lucien have a panic attack at the sight of his brother shirtless.

Should I... Does The Ginger Snap need help?

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

GASP.

You wound me so. I am not like them. In any sense of the word.

Obviously not.

Hmph. 😤

[𝔣𝔢𝔶𝔯𝔢, 𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 @beaconofnight]

the entire vanserra family is, apparently, deeply promiscuous. and don’t start acting like you’re any better.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

That’s all he wanted to add.

[𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓮𝓷 𝓥𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓪 @OneEyedFlame]

Excuse me—
Ahem—
*cups his hands around his mouth and YELLS*

𝗚𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟!