resolvebound

[resolvebound]

Perhaps it was the darkness outside, and the warm glow of soft lighting inside, that lent itself towards it feeling as if it was much later in the day than it really was. Or maybe it was the way he was seated on the floor, and she was snuggled beneath a blanket, that gave the impression of late-night conversations, of quietly shared thoughts, and the intimacy of being the only people awake while the rest of the world slumbered. It was times like that which often led to deep conversations, a feeling of connection, yet he had to admit it such sleepover-esque situations were few and far between for him. Any deep and meaningfuls he’d had over the years had been with Cana or Loke (and typically involved a fair amount of alcohol beforehand).

He was aware in the moment now, that somehow, without liquor to shield himself or lower defences, he was…okay with the turns his conversation with Evergreen was taking. Even if some of the points raised had him questioning himself, and there were things he didn’t wish to burden her with, things he avoided, she was…someone he was becoming more comfortable with, someone who would understand. He…liked talking with her like this.

A tad uneasy about that little revelation, he focused on watching the steady flames within the fireplace and waiting for Evergreen’s reply. The unintentional tension in his expression eased as she spoke, smoothed away by the touch of a faint smile. He wondered then, if Evergreen’s mother had been anything like the teacher’s he’d had in school back in his hometown. Curious too, if Evergreen had been a better student than he’d been (it probably wasn’t that hard to beat him, truthfully, he’d been a daydreamer in all lessons except the practical ones). When he’d joined Fairy Tail, his spoken Fiorean was…passable. It was poor Levy that had helped him improve and better learn its written form, and she’d had her work cut out for her, even with him making an effort to focus. He sighed at the memory.

Outside, the storm intensified, the sound causing the canine on his lap to lift her head, an ear perking up in concern. Gray shifted his weight to allow one hand free to give a reassuring pat to the dog, all the while he turned his gaze back to Evergreen. An opera? Amusement brought him a smile and a slight raise of an eyebrow. The mental image of young Evergreen, excited about her new dress and the prospect of attending the opera was…cute, yet curiosity sparked at the unfinished aspect of the story. “I’m guessing you didn’t like the opera after all?” he asked.

He couldn’t say such a show was something that interested him personally and, although he was sure it had never come up, he had a feeling the opera wasn’t either of his parent’s style either. Reflecting on his too-brief time with them, he was silent for a moment, appreciating that Evergreen even thought to give him an out if he didn’t want to talk about them.

His head tilted back a little as his eyes found the ceiling, as if the memories were being played back there on a Lacrima screen only he could see. A smile tugged the corner of his lips.

“When I was about seven or so, I’d heard the next town over was gonna have a festival of some kind. It’d have food, games, shows, everything exciting, so I really wanted to go and I kept asking my parents about it. I told them we’d have so much fun at it. They were really busy with work though, so they said no and, uh…” He laughed slightly, mildly embarrassed at his younger self. “I might've...sulked until they agreed we could go. I had to do all my chores and whatnot first of course, and help out the old lady next door with her garden. But the festival was…fun. Even mum and dad played some of the games, and we tried a bunch of the foods from the stalls too.” There was perhaps a tinge of childish smugness to him as he added, “At the end of the day, they said I was right and that they were glad we went.”

His parents had promised then that they would make more time to spend as a family and stop allowing work to creep in so much. They promised they would go to any and all festivals they heard of, together, as a family. The old promise sat heavily in his chest like a weight, pulling the smile away from his face. Festivals had since been a reminder of that day, and at times it was simply too much (and as such, he had frequently been ‘on a job’ whenever the Harvest Festival of Magnolia had come around, except of course for that time...).

He sighed, eyes returning to Evergreen. Did mention of festivals bring to mind the infamous Battle of Fairy Tail for her? It was water under the bridge in his eyes, but maybe he should have thought of a different story. In the attempt to shift the topic in case it made her awkward or uncomfortable, he continued with a tangent, “When we got back, the old lady next door said I ruined her garden.” Shrugging at the thought, perhaps a little defensively, he added on a slight grumble, “But how was I supposed to know what was weeds and what was flowers? It all looked the same to me.”

The conversation was heavy, but Carena had gotten very used to it. She had had more than just a handful of heavy conversations with Laxus lately, about who had known what at which point of time, and although this conversation was weighing on her, it at least did not include any mentions of memory magic. Oh hells, that would be quite the twist---and one that she really did not wish for.

Strangely enough, she found herself . . . glad that she was more than just vaguely aware of the fact that if he wanted, Gray had people in his life to discuss the heavy stuff with. He had been friends with Cana for as long as she had been aware of either of them, it felt. And after the Grand Magic Games and all the chaos surrounding it, she was also very aware of his fellow former student. But of course---this required Gray to want to discuss these with someone, and she had become very aware of the . . . culture of silence that the guild had been submerged in. And it was sometimes easier to open up to strangers, to less familiar faces.

(Freed and her had an entire conspiracy theory about how that---being the kind stranger with an open ear and plenty of patience---was how some of the Blue Pegasus mages acquired lots of information some people should probably not part with so easily.)

For the blink of an eye, she looked out the window before her gaze found Gray once more, catching sight of the little cloud. It almost made her smile, not that she knew why. It was commonly said that those who used elemental magic either felt a natural affinity towards an element right away or, over the course of a mage's path, the mage and the element started to be woven together. Laxus' hair sometimes showed signs of static so the frostiness of Gray's breath was not really a surprise. And after years of being friends with Laxus, the storm outside was nowhere as unsettling as it could have been otherwise.

For reasons that she could not quite name, speaking of her mother had always been easier than speaking about her father. If she pushed herself, if she forced herself to examine what she did not like to look closely at, then she would say that it was because her father had passed down the Stone Eyes to her. And the Stone Eyes had been the cause for her family's destruction. She rubbed her neck, trying to remember what her father's study had looked like, what her mother's office had looked like. Two places she had been to many, many times, but they had almost entirely faded from her memory.

Carena hummed as she regarded Gray for a moment. She recognised when an offer to shift the conversation towards an easier topic was made, and this time, she was ready to take him up on the offer. "She had started to teach me some of the older languages," she said. She had neglected her studies into that field, but---what little she remembered had been enough to be useful for some quests. "It was a . . . good time of my life."

Like any member---former or present---of the guild that had joined at a young age, Gray surely knew that it seemed like every happy story that could be told was always bittersweet with the knowledge of what had followed. Such was the nature of a life where much happiness seemed to have been the prelude to the eventual loss of that happiness. And she felt compassion---her own secrets had turned to rubble and been forgotten by almost everyone, but Gray's? All of much of it had been dragged out in the open without his permission. Having had a very famous teacher had its downsides, she would say.

She sighed, her exhale underlined by a particularly sharp howl of the wind outside. "She took me to Crocus to watch an opera on the weekend after I turned eight. I really, really wanted to go because I was so convinced that the opera was for grown ups. She was a good sport about it, we bought a new dress and everything for me since nothing I had was, you know, opera-worthy. But, well. What about you?" she asked then, careful not to appear as too pushy. She was curious, but she had manners as well. "Any similar stories you feel comfortable sharing?"

#lucentaire #❰ ❄ ― interactions. ― gray & rena. lucentaire. ❱ #legend has it that gray is Still a terrible gardener

[resolvebound]

⭐

Send ⭐ for a sample of a new muse I am thinking of writing // accepting

With a sigh and a shake of his head, Dorian watched the customer leave his shop. Kids these days, he thought, they didn’t appreciate quality workmanship the way they used to. ‘Kid’ was probably not quite the right descriptor for the young man that had come and gone, as he was perhaps in his twenties, but still…that would put him at least half Dorian’s own age. It occurred to him then that he was getting old, almost reminding himself of his father with the weary thoughts of youth. The idea of having any sort of similarity to his father would have stirred up disgust in the past, yet now there was almost a touch of fondness (though a slight, reflexive scrunch of his face could not be denied).

As he picked up the magic imbued knife from the countertop, he held it up to catch the light. In the reflection of the blade, his own eyes stared intently back at him, the rich, chocolate shade of which he inherited from his mother, while the ever-present seriousness echoed of his father. He tilted the knife slightly, the adjusted view now showing the lower half of his face and the heavy stubble of dark brown that shaped it.

Eyes ever discerning, he spotted a smudge along the blade from where the kid had touched. Frowning, he pulled out a cloth from beneath the counter, carefully wiping the knife clean. Polished once again, the weapon gleamed from the tip down to the intricate detailing on the hilt that surrounded the Lacrima fused within it. When he thought about it, he supposed the knife, along with everything else in the shop, represented every interest he had that his father had struggled to understand. Craftmanship, art, creation, magic.

Dorian moved around the counter to return the item to its proper place, setting it gently on its stand. He turned, eyes surveying the rest of his wares to ensure everything was where it should be. Swords, knives, bows, arrows, armour – they made up the bulk of the humble store, all crafted with great care and typically infused with magic. Fusion was his speciality after all, and his curse. The joining of different elements, materials, or items to create something new.

His gaze shifted over the various magical objects he’d made, settling on the display of enhanced prosthetic limbs. They had been, and continued to be, the most difficult and rewarding work, and happened to be what had finally garnered the respect of his father, as one such magical limb had allowed the man to continue his work after that dark time.

He wondered if he should call in on his parents next time he headed out. A search for resources, or a job request via his guild, either could bring him back to his old hometown. Funny, even after all these years and everything they had been through, he still felt as if he needed an excuse to visit. Nevertheless, now that he thought about it, it had been a while since he’d taken up a request. Master Goldmine never seemed to mind the time that passed between his visits to the guild, knowing both his personality and his...circumstances.

It would be…good to visit. Yes, the timing was right too, the next full moon was still a couple of weeks away.

Plans of travel began to form in his mind, lists of what he might need to take with him, or pick up along the way. However, his thoughts on the matter soon halted as the bell above the front door jingled, heralding someone’s entrance. A quick look at the newcomer found his eyes drawn to the guild mark visible upon them, the shape of which stirred certain mixed emotions. Even without the guild’s fame (or infamy, according to some), the Fairy Tail insignia was all too familiar to him.

It wasn’t easy to forget his first guild, after all.

He frowned, rubbing a hand first along his shoulder where old scars seemed to ache, then through the thickness of his hair (which he had forgotten he’d cut short again, but knew it wouldn’t be long before the loose waves once again reached his shoulders). Smiling was not a common expression of his, and was not something he faked, not even for the sake of serving a customer, so he merely greeted his visitor with a respectful nod (if they looked, they might see a degree of warmth in his eyes, however).

“Welcome,” he said, voice low, almost as if it wasn’t used to being used, “Can I help you?”

#raiiryuu #sample muse tag #this is my middle aged ex-FT now QC mage & shop guy that makes magic items weapons etc #he has Fusion magic (along the lines of alchemy) and once had to do the Forbidden (fuse living creatures - himself and a wolf) #in order to save someone #so he's like a werewolf now :') #and lives a pretty hermit lifestyle aside from the shop #his hair also grows ridiculously fast because the wolf he fused with was Magic and had some funky abilities #i actually started setting up a blog for him like a year ago but never finished it 🙃

[resolvebound]

⭐

Send ⭐ for a sample of a new muse I am thinking of writing // accepting

Even alone as she was, within the safety and privacy of her realm in the celestial world, there was a hesitance to her movements. She raised her hand slowly, with a touch of nervousness, as if she would be hurt or reprimanded at any moment. Inch by inch, Aries closed the gap between her fingertips and the clothes displayed before her.

Warmth seemed to bloom on her skin at the contact. An effect of the material perhaps, or the remembered touch of her once-held fire magic. A flame suffocated long ago, embers deeply buried.

Her eyes drifted over the items she had worn in a past age, those that had been so much a part of her in a different time, when she had been different, dangerous. The burgundy tunic, accented with a golden trim and detailing, spoke to the passion and light she’d carried, the refined lines echoing with pride and a sense of purpose. At the waist, a gold sash was secured with her symbol, the horns. She traced over the shape gently with one fingertip, as her other hand lifted to brush the side of her head, skimming the hard horn present there, recalling how they had differed in the past. Of course, they weren’t the only thing that had changed since then.

She sighed, gaze falling towards the boots set down before her former outfit. Matched perfectly with the tunic, the protective footwear gleamed in the soft light. By now, it felt as if it had been another person that had worn the garments, and she supposed it was, in a way. But, did she miss that person? That version of herself? The thought caused an anxious stir in her chest.

That Aries was best left in the past, wasn’t she? Or perhaps it was finally time to forgive her. To stop holding so much back. To allow the fire to return to her soul. But carefully this time. Could she do it?

A frown settled. Aries stared down at her hand, turning it to face upwards. With a steadying breath, she reminded herself that she could do no harm to anyone here, it was safe. All she had to do now was concentrate, stoke the fire and let it breathe.

She closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, releasing the held air as she felt heat build within her. In her palm, light sparked and flickered. She reopened her eyes and the sight caused fear to startle her. She immediately closed her hand into a fist, extinguishing the budding flame as her heart raced.

Equal parts worry and hope swirled around at the realisation that she still had it in her.

But which one to act on?

#sample muse tag #ive been thinking about her for so long #it was fun to give her a go #heheh #also i def picture her in like fire nation type outfit in the past #also her hair and horns were different back then #in my mind

[resolvebound]

Send ⭐ for a sample of a new muse I am thinking of writing

#Gonna think about this at work today 🤭

[resolvebound]

Reputation - part 2

What are some rumours about them? What would the average person know or assume about them?

Rumours:

A popular theory due to his colouring, features, and nocturnal behaviour, is that he’s actually a vampire. This causes some people to back away very quickly if they come across him at night. They also think he might be allergic to the sun due to his lack of bare skin on display/ more conservative style of clothes.

Similarly, due to his appearance, there are rumours of him being related to Gajeel, with more recent theories about a relation to Midnight/Macbeth as well. And of course, due to the title of ‘twin dragon slayers’, many people do genuinely think he and Sting are twins.

On the other hand, some people are convinced he and Sting are a couple (sometimes these are the same people that think they’re twins, eww).

Another rumour says that if Rogue eats your shadow, you’ll never get it back and you won’t move on to the afterlife, as your shadow is a reflection of your soul. This is sometimes used by parents to scare their children into coming inside at night.

Anytime he is seen with anyone, particularly one-on-one, rumours fly of a romance. The crowd favourite lately is actually a love triangle between Rogue, Yukino, and Sting.

Some people (foolishly) believe his sword is just ornamental and that he has no actual skill with it. While others believe it was the tool he used to kill his dragon parent.

There are many guesses as to how he acquired a shadow dragon Lacrima and where it is located within him. One theory is that he somehow had his heart replaced with the Lacrima, which is why some people are especially wary of him as they think he is literally heartless.

Common knowledge (things most people would/could know):

He uses shadow magic and shadow dragon slaying magic and typically works alongside Sting.

He is co-guildmaster of Sabertooth with Sting (main verse).

He doesn’t often appear in magazines willingly, which sometimes makes him a more tempting target for some reporters. From the one interview he’s actually done, people would learn his favourite colour (green), preferred dessert (apple crumble), and his interests/hobbies (reading, stargazing, listening to music, drawing, collecting gems and pretty stones).

He is almost always accompanied by Frosch.

He killed a dragon when he was younger (he, Sting, and Lector were not very quiet about this fact in previous years, as seen when the group first runs into Natsu and the gang pre-GMG and they seem to brag about it).

If people were to dig around a bit, they would learn that he spent time as part of the Rune Knights in his years before joining Sabertooth. This information might have been brought up by reporters at some stage.

Assumptions:

Based on his reputation, people can assume he is a reserved type and a highly competent mage. Based on his appearance (and certain rumours), people might assume he is scary, unfriendly, and perhaps very dangerous. If they believe particular rumours, they might assume he is in some sort of relationship with Sting or another guildmember. Given the fact Frosch is almost always with him, it would be a correct to assume the exceed is incredibly important to him.

Not common knowledge (things most people don’t/wouldn’t know):

The how and where of his dragon Lacrima.

He has a demonic entity living in his shadow that periodically tries to take him over.

He has chronic insomnia and nightmare disorder.

He’s from 400 years in the past.

He originally had green eyes and normal pupils, but due to dragon slaying magic and lacrima, the colour changed to red, and the pupils became vertical. His eyes glow/brighten when he uses magic, but dim and appear more black than red when he’s magically exhausted (which is not a state many people would see him in, except around the end of the war).

#❰ ◐ ― headcanon. rogue. ❱ #im forgetting things but im Tired #i always have a lot of fun with the rumours part #heheh

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KING THE LAND 킹더랜드 (2023) dir. Im Hyun-Wook, Choi Sun-Min

#i just finished this series and ksjdnks its SO heartwarming #im so soft #they are so so so so cute #❰ ◐ ― rogue & mary. killrate. ― you caught me staring; but i caught you staring back. ❱ #his lil face scrunch is so cute and 100% rogue behaviour here

[resolvebound]

Reputation - part 1

What is your muses reputation?

To a certain degree, Rogue’s reputation is tangled up with Sting’s, as they are renowned as an iconic duo, the ‘twin dragon slayers’. Because of this, the pair are commonly compared and contrasted with each other, along with being related to/associated with their magical elements – Rogue being known as the quieter, darker, and more serious one, while Sting is generally viewed in a more approachable and lighthearted manner (there is definitely something to be said about pre-x791 GMG reputation + persona and post-GMG though, in terms of Sting especially, but that’s an essay for another time). Due to seeming more introverted than Sting, people often view Rogue as being more mysterious (despite there probably being as much/little info about him out there as there is for Sting), he also gets viewed as being colder and typically scarier or more unnerving. As a member of Sabertooth, and a dragon slayer at that, the reputation of his power and skill is widely known and respected.

For a while after the ’91 GMG, there was a degree of wariness aimed towards him, from those who had a sharp enough eye to note his temporary possession during his battle with Gajeel, and from those who heard the rumours that it was the act of his future self that brought the dragons through from the past. This added a touch of distrust to how he was viewed for some time. Adding to this, sometime later, when he and Sting decided they would reform Sabertooth, not everyone in their guild was thrilled by the new direction or by having his input. His status within the guild was shaken somewhat, until his challengers were soundly beaten by him, and he proved himself in their eyes once again.

As it stands now, to people who don’t know him too well, his reputation hasn’t changed much over recent years. He’s still viewed as quiet, not particularly friendly or approachable, serious, private, brooding, powerful, and is known for being reliable too (clients also know him to be efficient, polite, and respectful). To his guildmates, he is also known to be fair, helpful, and supportive, and someone who doesn’t tolerate bad behaviour but is also more approachable than he looks. As a co-guildmaster, he is known to other guildmasters as being responsible and careful.

There are some strange rumours out there about him too, which can get mixed up with his general reputation.

How did this reputation develop and is it accurate/fair?

His reputation is accurate and fair, as most of it developed purely because of his own nature (and with being contrasted with Sting by the public)– he is quiet and private, a reserved sort that comes across as intimidating due to his features and tendency to stare. His strength and skill have been hard earned and are well deserved, and his nature again kept him acting efficiently and responsibly.  He keeps to himself for the most part and is an elusive target for the media, further adding to the mysteriousness factor attributed to him.

How do they feel about it and how does it affect them?

For a long time, his reputation did not bother him at all, he didn’t care about what anyone thought of him. This is still mostly the case; however, it does trouble him that people view him as scary or unapproachable and that he’s somehow evil. When people see him and noticeably avoid him, it’s disheartening, though luckily this is not as common as it once was. He can feel down at times, thinking he needs to try come across more open or change himself somehow. Aside from that, he only takes issue with reputation when someone accuses him of being something he’s not – like people assuming he’s coldhearted.

On the other side, as a famous mage, he has his fair share of fans. Sometimes this can lead to disruptions in his day or activities, or people being generous to him (which is a nice change at times).

#❰ ◐ ― headcanon. rogue. ❱

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@lucentaire 💖

#lucentaire #ive been wanting to do something for them for Ages #this took me way longer than expected 💀 #but anyway #i love they 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 #❰ ❄ ― gray & rena. lucentaire. ― everyone has broken pieces; ours go together so well. ❱

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I was thinking about this on my way to work, I want to do this for my muses at some point when I have the energy, but I'll put it out there so everyone can think about it for their muses if they want-- what does your muse want /think they want vs what they actually Need? What do You want for your muse? Are there particular arcs or development that you want for them? How do you see this happening?

#And another thing #Hmmmm

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another topic for metas that im thinking about lately...reputation.

what is your muses reputation?

how did it develop?

is it accurate/fair?

how do they feel about it?

what are some rumours about your muse? what would the average person know or assume about your muse?

what are things most people Dont/Wouldn't know about your muse? (we all hate when someone has their muse know something about ours that they shouldn't know)

How does your muses reputation affect them?

#Dug around to find this post bc I'm thinking about it again #Hmmmmmmmm #Thinking noises

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Mild amusement briefly touched a smile to his lips. Patience might have been one of his virtues, but the same couldn’t be said for Laxus, certainly not when the possibility of a good fight was on the horizon. There were loose ends to be snipped, following the war, enemy mages that had evaded capture and were now causing trouble. The job they were preparing for was just one of the threads. Mages from the western continent often had rather unique magics, Freed had found, so while it wasn’t so much an urge to fight that had him anticipating their upcoming mission, there was a certain curiosity teasing his mind. So perhaps he could understand Laxus’ need for a distraction to pass the time.

Freed spared his book a glance before returning his gaze to his friend. “It’s not personal, no,” he assured him, giving a slight thoughtful hum before he continued, “It’s a novel, an adventure story. I’ve been reading a lot of books on magical theory lately and needed a break. Lucy suggested this one.”

Aware that he had a tendency to ramble once started on such topics, he contemplated on how best to summarise the book without boring the dragon slayer (aware also, that Laxus very rarely asked him about whatever he was reading)

“It’s set in a world similar, yet different from ours. They have magic, but it’s limited to three main types and a few subsets within. This story actually focuses on a group made up mostly of non-magic users, a band of thieves planning a heist on a high security prison. The characters are intriguing, as is the world setting, so I’m rather enjoying it so far.”

“You’re welcome to read it after me, if you like.”

@resolvebound - ⚡︎

"...Dunno how you do it."

The answer was surprisingly matter-of-fact, as if no further elaboration would be forthcoming. But even if his next words hadn't expanded the point, the way the man had been fidgeting for the past few minutes -- as he just did again, shifting to sit leaned back in his chair -- likely would have said the same thing.

"Feels like we've been waitin' here for hours, now."

He wouldn't have typically been quite this impatient with it all -- it was barely any different from the usual jobs they'd run as a group. It had been quite a while since they had done this, though, and the target was one he felt would give them a challenge.

It was something he'd been looking for, the past few months, a reason to go all-out that wasn't some world-ending calamity someone would have to sacrifice themselves to. Just a fight against someone with skill, something to test him.

...okay, maybe he was a little overeager to go kicking someone's ass, but honestly? He was just grateful things were getting back to something resembling normal, and he wanted to take advantage of the break while it lasted.

"S'pose you've got that keepin' you busy," he murmured, gesturing to the book in the other's hands. "What is it, anyway? If it ain't somethin' personal."

He'd never shown much interest in it before, but maybe the conversation would at least keep his mind off the boredom and worry.

#raiiryuu #❰ ◈ ― interactions. ― freed & laxus. raiiryuu. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― thread 1. ― freed & laxus. raiiryuu. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― in character. freed. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― verse.01. freed. ❱ #lmao laxus #waiting around is not easy 😌

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Ever and freed getting red wine drunk

#babies #lucentaire #❰ ◈ ― gallery. freed. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― bond. ― freed & rena. lucentaire. ❱

[resolvebound]

Rain lashed the windows and the wind howled through the nearby trees; the sound too familiar to be unnerving. As the sky grew darker and darker through the windows, it crossed his mind that he should have pulled the curtains shut before sitting down earlier. To do so now would be too much effort, with Muddy quite content on his lap, and it wasn’t an overly urgent task anyway. The fire crackled along happily, warmth radiating outwards and light dancing, shooing away the encroaching cold brought by the storm.

With a contemplative frown, Gray nodded with Evergreen’s words and rubbed a hand through his hair, (subconsciously) mirroring her own action. Acknowledgement and accountability. Hardly much to ask for, yet unlikely to come. Did anyone else see the flaws in their childhood within the guild? In the way things were run and handled? His frown deepened for a moment as he studied Evergreen. If she had such feelings about the guild, it seemed likely her teammates felt similarly or at least understood her view. Freed and Bixlow had joined a fair bit later than she had, he thought, and hadn’t grown up in the guild the way they had. But Laxus…he was born into it.

Gray decided he would chew on that food for thought later, choosing for the moment now to stay focused as Evergreen spoke again. He nodded thoughtfully at her words, relieved that Lisanna had someone who could understand what she’d been through, and he found a certain appreciation for Evergreen’s perspective, as she had a point – sometimes someone else was better suited to have a conversation. He could listen to a friend talk about their struggles, even if he hadn’t experienced the same thing, yet sometimes what they needed was someone who truly related to them. He wondered, then, what Lisanna and Evergreen related on, what they talked about and did together, but that was likely not something he should ask.

The mention of MCLs derailed his line of thought. Guilt flashed a sheepish grin across his face as he looked away. “Yeah…good point.”

His contact with his friends and former guildmates hadn’t changed overly much with the introduction of MCLs. He couldn’t be (entirely) sure if it was mostly due to his bad luck with the device or that he had allowed the contact to drop as he pulled away from the guild. In any case, isolation had been creeping in of late, and the habit of telling himself it was what he wanted had begun. The fewer people around him, the better. The safer.

Sighing, he ruffled Muddy’s fur a moment before beginning a slow repetitive motion of running his hand along her side. His eyes flicked briefly to his guest as she removed her glasses, only returning his focus to Muddy to keep himself from staring. It was distantly amusing to him that he avoided looking at her when she took her glasses off. He knew most people would react the same way as him, looking away, yet their reasons were quite different.

As she spoke of hearing him, he froze momentarily, hand halting in its action as he waited for the rest of her words. It wasn’t surprising to hear that she would leave if her friends wanted to, and he almost asked what she thought the chances would be of it. He frowned slightly as she continued and explained. With a sigh and minor shift in his position, he considered what was said. There was certainly merit in the sentiment, and…he wasn’t sure exactly, but it seemed as if Evergreen was trying to make him feel better.

“That’s…true,” he said after a long moment. He smiled faintly, “Sounds like your mum gave good advice.”

He just wasn’t sure it applied in his case. Had he left Fairy Tail because it no longer met his needs? The conflicting feelings that being around the guild brought certainly hadn’t helped him keep a handle on the demon slaying magic he had, and he’d needed to get away from that. He’d needed time and peace, needed to rediscover his own identity. Staying in the guild wouldn’t have allowed for that. Maybe Evergreen was right. So why did it still feel like he was running away?

He took a deep breath and exhaled, a cloud of icy air falling from his lips. It was tempting to voice his thoughts. Evergreen seemed to understand things deeply, always providing an intelligent view and articulate voice, maybe she’d untangle the mess of his mind. He inwardly shook himself free of the thought. She was not his therapist (but maybe he should get one), and he didn’t need to burden her like that.

His hand dropped away from Muddy and moved to the floor just behind him, his other hand following suit on the other side. He leaned back, bracing his weight as he cast his eyes up in thought as he tried to recall any sage advice from his own mother. He drew a blank in the moment, mind turning instead to the vague curiosity of what Evergreen’s mother might have thought about her daughter’s current situation. Feeling rather like a kid at a sleepover as his eyes shifted back down to her, he asked, “So…you said she taught languages, right? Did she teach you a few?”

Fairy Tail had worked out for Carena, all those years ago, because of how little questions she had been asked. At the time? Oh, it had been convenient. It had made it easy to disappear. Nowadays? She could not shake the thought that she could not think of a single wizard in their generation who did not have some kind of horror in their past. And maybe, just maybe---maybe it was not smart to group together a bunch of children who had all experienced something and who typically had not been given the proper tools to communicate the tragedies of their past and request the help anyone needed to cope with trauma.

At one point, back when she had been a younger person, she had found Natsu pretty annoying. But age brought some sort of wisdom, and she now felt compassion with the kid version of Natsu who had definitely not received the proper assistance. And all the weird stuff that they had learned about since? Time travel, centuries into the future? It frankly was a surprise in retrospect that Natsu had not been weirder.

"I think you're right---I think the damage is well and truly done, and I don't know if I would be able to accept an apology, but some kind of acknowledgement?" She ran a hand through her (messy, messy) hair. "I think I'd appreciate accountability more than a hollow apology."

Truthfully, she did not think that either was in her future. Makarov did not seem like the kind of person that could acknowledge his own wrongdoings and try make amends. And she had been thirteen, at least. She had been old by comparison when she had joined the guild. And she felt . . . she felt anger and frustration on behalf of those who had been even younger than her when they had lost their support systems.

Carena nodded and her dark green eyes wandered to the window. The storm outside was a fitting reflection of how she felt; she guessed that after such a long time of being friends with Laxus, she had grown familiar to how storms felt. And she found that she was lucky that no matter how moody she was, her moods never affected the weather. Magnolia had seen a few thunderstorms lately that had not been forecasted. For a moment, she was quiet and just let the weight of the conversation crush her. "I think Lisanna sometimes talks with Porlyusica about Edolas. And it's probably good that she has someone who can relate better than I could---better than anyone could. That doesn't mean I'm slacking off in my friendships, I just can acknowledge that sometimes, someone else is better suited to have a conversation. And yes, I try to make time for trips to Dahlia," she said. It was not always easy (nothing was, nowadays), but Carena had liked her time in Dahlia. It was a city she had felt welcomed by. "Everyone's busy, but for people who don't wreck their MCLs all the time, scheduling a meetup is . . .doable."

It still took effort from both sides, Carena had found out. And if she was honest, now that it was technically pretty easy to stay in touch with others, it became glaringly apparent who was not putting in the effort. She had witnessed more than a handful of breakups at train stations that she would link to the MCLs. It was almost funny to her, but then---she had not been dumped.

She paused and sighed, taking off her glasses and folding them before tucking them back into their case. "I heard you earlier, and I will be pretty frank here---if Laxus or Freed or Bix had brought up the idea of leaving, of getting some distance, I would've packed my bags. I don't think it's running away, it's more a matter of, hm---" she hummed, pondering the anecdote for a moment. "My mum always said that there's no shame in leaving a place that no longer meets your needs." She flustered, just a little bit. "It was part of the big speech on how I shouldn't ever tolerate a situation where I'm not treated with respect."

#lucentaire #❰ ❄ ― interactions. ― gray & rena. lucentaire. ❱ #❰ ❄ ― in character. gray. ❱

[resolvebound]

👀+ Gray (you should've known this was coming)

Send 👀 for my muse to catch yours staring at them! // accepting

Roughly halfway between their respective homes, the small roadside village made for an appropriate meeting place. The modest tavern in the middle of the village was likewise the best spot to meet. Gray waited inside the building, sitting at one of the corner tables where he could keep an eye on the other patrons and anticipate the arrival of a certain someone.

Although he appeared relaxed, with his legs loosely kicked out beneath the table and his back leaning heavily against the support of the chair, anyone watching the movements of his hands might guess he was, perhaps, a little nervous or excited. His fingers tapped repetitively against the surface of the table, always eager for something to do or fidget with. Earlier, he’d crafted an ice-make dagger and had been content flipping it in his hands, however the wary eyes of the tavern’s clientele had made him reluctantly rethink his object of distraction.

He passed his eyes briefly over the occupants of the room before focusing on the entryway for a lingering moment. When the door made no move, he sighed and once more stared at the tabletop. He traced shapes and swirls in the woodgrain, allowing the lightest touch of his magic to come forth and create a trail of frost wherever he touched. It didn’t take long (or much thought) for the random shapes to soon shift into something with a little more purpose or definition. A flower first, then the smooth curves of a set of butterfly-like wings.

The mild tension unknowingly held in his shoulders began to ease as he traced the gentle lines of a woman’s face. His thoughts wandered back to past times he’d spent with Evergreen. Their conversations always tended to be interesting, certainly amusing at times too. Her perspective and thoughts were given with care, and they were insightful, always intriguing to his mind. More than once lately, he’d found himself wondering what her opinion or thoughts would be on various things he’d come across, and he’d guess at what she might say. Most recently, he’d passed through a town with a rather striking water fountain, and as he’d admired the sculpture at its center (a woman in a flowing dress, her expression utterly peaceful as she held a flower up to her face), he’d thought of Evergreen.

Now, as his thoughts of her continued, flowing over and over through his mind much like the water within the fountain, he failed to notice her entrance into the tavern.

A clatter nearby drew his eyes upwards, finding someone had dropped their cutlery a few tables over. As he scanned the room for signs of trouble, his gaze skidded to a halt upon landing on a familiar face. If anyone had asked him, he would steadfastly deny that the sight of Evergreen made his pulse jump. She had simply startled him, that's all. He would also deny that finding her eyes on him made a strange flutter echo from his chest to his stomach. And her sudden appearance didn’t make him feel self-conscious at all, nope, he wouldn’t give into the urge to fix his hair or make sure there was nothing out of place.

From where she stood, halfway between his table and the door, it seemed she might have been there for a few moments at least. Hesitating? He wondered.

To erase his absentminded artwork on the table, he hurriedly wiped his hand across the surface, assuring himself she couldn’t have seen any of it from her position.

“Hey,” he greeted, clearing his throat slightly and attempting to banish the awkwardness he felt trying to tinge his skin a faint pink.

#lucentaire #tehehehs #she flustered him a bit #❰ ❄ ― interactions. ― gray & rena. lucentaire. ❱ #❰ ❄ ― asks. gray. ❱ #❰ ❄ ― asks. ― gray & rena. lucentaire. ❱ #❰ ❄ ― in character. gray. ❱

[resolvebound]

👀 for Freed!

Send 👀 for my muse to catch yours staring at them! // accepting

Freed shifted slightly in his chair to alleviate the beginnings of discomfort, born of having remained seated for too long. Evergreen and Bixlow would be returning soon, he reminded himself, and once they shared what they had learned, it would be time to start putting the pieces of their plan together. With that in mind (and various plans already swirling on the edges of his thoughts), he refocused on the book he was reading.

Ordinarily, he had quite the skill for centering his mind, keeping it on task and ignoring other distractions, yet the text in front of him only held his attention for but a moment. Awareness was a gentle tug on his senses, pulling his gaze upwards and across the area. Only to find his dragon slayer friend staring at him.

Curiosity sparked, giving a slight rise to his eyebrow as he asked, “Something on your mind, Laxus?”

#raiiryuu #he's chill about it 😌 #❰ ◈ ― interactions. ― freed & laxus. raiiryuu. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― asks. ― freed & laxus. raiiryuu. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― asks. freed. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― verse.01. freed. ❱ #❰ ◈ ― in character. freed. ❱

[resolvebound]

idk if this is just me or a weird setting hiding somewhere, but the sideblogs that i follow don't show up on my desktop dashboard, only on mobile dash?

#like i see their posts for a split second on desktop but then they disappear #its annoying :// #im gonna try figure this out #its been going on for Too Long #❰ ･ﾟ― ooc. momo. ❱

[resolvebound]

WHAT HERB ARE YOU?

Dandelion

you grew up too fast and all you know is the calluses on your fists and the thousand invisible scars that you pretend don't ache. your anger burns so bright, so hot or maybe not at all, so deep you could never tell it was there. you are yours and you will defend that to the death after so many years of being ripped apart and denied your own agency and maybe you are still facing the bastards who stole your innocence but you will survive because that's the only thing you know how to do without breaking, the only thing you know besides protect, protect, protect, protect, yourself or sometimes those few others you claim as yours. you are a thousand sharp edges but impenetrable, a traumatized child so covered by thorny armor that you promised yourself you're grown now, you're stronger than anyone who has ever hurt you. you're safe. nothing will ever hurt you again. you're so alone though sometimes, in a world that sees you as too much or too broken or too angry or too hurt, and you want to scream with the too-much of it, prove that you're okay, that you're self-reliant, that you are strong enough to stake your claim on your body, on your mind, on your heart, on your people, and protect it from any who dare take it away from you. you are the sea in tempest, a howling sky, a tsunami in motion, a force of nature, no matter how much you sometimes yearn to be still, to be safe, to be small. you are a dandelion, stubborn and determined to grow in the rockiest of soil, and bloom again in spring.

tagged by: @lucentaire them getting the same answer tho 🤭

Garlic

You leave an impression wherever you go. Your heart is so strong, so determined, so willing to go after whatever hole you see in the world, whatever wound you need to fix next. You're there. You're justice, hot red and pure gold, fairness incarnate, a paladin in shining armor come to protect and cleanse and heal and yet sometimes you wonder if you're the most corrupt, dirty being in the world, a fraud, a monster in hero's clothing. The world is so intense and you are so small, so fragile, and no matter how hard you try you're never good enough. You want to be good. You want to be good enough. You try so hard and yet the world is so dark and angry and cruel. Perfection is always just out of reach and you want things to be okay so bad you bleed with it. You just want things to be right, to be good, to be fair, but you don't know if they ever can be. If you can ever be.

#❰ ❄ ― quizzes & dash games. gray. ❱ #this hurts though #❰ ◐ ― quizzes & dash games. rogue. ❱