#tariga bergatt | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sabraeal · 9 months

Text

The Strong Pack Thrives, Part 1

[Read on AO3]

Sequel to The Lone Wolf Survives

Hardly two steps into the breakfast room and the scent assaults her: pork sausage with fennel and garlic, some root vegetable-- potato perhaps-- fried crisp and spritzed with lemon, charred tomatoes with spring onions, a milky sauce of indeterminate spice but what is there is certainly a lot. There’s more besides; an entire basket full of muffins calls to her, as well as small danishes laid out on a tray and topped with generous helpings of jam and custard. But none of those pastries cling to her nose, overwhelming her with choice. Eisetsu’s table had never been sparse, but this morning--

Well, no one would ever guess that they had all spent almost an hour trying to scrub char and pitch and dirt from their skin last night, or that what remained of her clothes had been resigned to the furnace, not the laundry. Thank goodness they’d thought to change before riding out after Ryuu; Eisetsu was no alpha to begrudge her a ruined gift, especially if the ruination was in his service, but still-- she would have spent all breakfast, wondering if she should bare her neck.

“Good morning, Shirayuki,” he calls out, his usual sunny smile sedate. It’s habit to ask if there’s something the matter-- or, more pressing, if there’s anything she can do about it-- but she remembers the woman locked in the suite upstairs, still wrangling with the after effects of Touka Bergatt’s long-term attentions, and bites it back. Obi hadn’t had time to delve into the details of just what happened at the masque, but it didn’t take much to gather that it hadn’t been the joyous reunion Eisetsu had hoped.

“Ah, yes.” She bustles over to breakfast, attempting to be chipper enough for the both of them. “Good morn--”

“Shirayuki!” The chair legs screech across the parquet before Zen catches himself, half risen from his seat. “Ah, I mean. Mistress Shirayuki. It’s pleasure to see you.”

A lord does not rise for a commoners. An alpha does not rise for a beta. And a prince, well...there is a reason why Zen coughs, awkward, before shuffling his chair beneath him. Eisetsu, for his part, only tilts his head, sending a curious glance her way.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” she replies with as formal a bow as she can make with a plate in her hands. “Lady Kiki. Sir Mitsuhide. It’s an honor to dine with you this morning.”

A raised eyebrow from Rugilia’s lord warns her that she has perhaps laid it all on too thick. Obi is a knight of the Royal Circle, an aide to the prince of Clarines; as high as the rest of them ranked, both by blood and inclination, they were his close colleagues. And if she were his, er...

I think I mentioned-- even now she fells the rumble at her back, the hot breath washing over her ear --that alphas like to take care of their mates, Miss.

...Ah, whatever she might be, she would know them. Not well, but enough that she wouldn’t need to bow and scrape. Ugh, this one little lie had seemed so simple when it was just between her and Obi, but now with Zen here, and Kiki, and Mitsuhide-- it’s unwieldy. Every action must be calculated, joy rationed in every smile, and--

And she’s saved from much more of it by a shuffle in the hall. Or several shuffles, perhaps even a scuffle, each one far more awkward than her own, until somehow all the jostling ejects both offenders through the door.

“Lord Tsuruba!” Eisetsu calls out, a hair too loud for the room. “And, er...Lord Tariga...? What a pleasure for you two to join us.”

Side by side, the differences between them are stark; not simply because of Tariga’s braid and Tsuruba’s scar, but because of the way they hold their faces. Similar features mold to distinct persons now that she can see that Tsuruba wields a bland politeness like a shield, making each twitch of his nose or lift of his lips a full expression in itself; or that Tariga’s brows naturally settle at a quizzical angle, like a constant question caught is between his teeth, ready to fall with every breath.

And yet, despite their expression, their scent shifts to a similar shade of skeptical, dubious that their presence at this table could be anything but tolerated, that their duty to attend might be anything but a burden to those already seated.

Ah. Shirayuki rubs at her nose. Strange. She’s not use to so much from a simple sniff. Perhaps she’s simply overstimulated; Eisetsu’s spread is far more pungent this morning, most likely to impress the alphas in the royal party-- or at least, who he assumes are alphas. Still, it pales to the banquets at the palace; there may be a glut of scents, a veritable feast for the nose, but it lacks the complexity of what the castle kitchens put out.

Or maybe, a traitorous part of her whispers in her ear, it has something to do with last night.

It’s-- it’s impossible. It’s not as if she hadn’t-- if she had never--

Well, a beta may not fly into heat or fall into a rut, but Shirayuki had certainly put a hand between her legs before. A few times, even, when the nights ran late and her mind still paced the lab’s floors, composing notes that wouldn’t make it to the page until morning. Something to...to ease the way to sleep. To shut off.

Ah, but in that carriage, shutting off had been the furthest thing from her mind. His hands had skimmed up her thighs, and she had wanted to-- to--

Do something. She hardly knew what, but seeing Obi there across from her after, unfinished and undone--

Her hands had itched, her lips stung. We can do more later, he had rumbled, too low, and--

Clink.

“Shirayuki!” Eisetsu springs to his feet, blinking owlishly at where she stands. “Are you quite all right.”

She glances down, and, ah...the plate rests in one palm, and in another, a piece of it, broken in the shape of her grip. “Oh, goodness! I’m, ah...”

When she dressed this morning, grimacing at the marks she could only hope a high collar would cover, the choice had not felt convenient let alone fortunate. But now, with heat flaring over her chest, threatening to spill up the column of her neck, she feels...armored, if not precisely comfortable. Protected, from scrutiny, at least.

“Please, don’t worry yourself.” With a wave of his hand, a footman appears to take it from her, scurrying it away into the kitchens. “I’m sure it was just...badly thrown. Flawed before it even came to the table!”

“Right.” Considering the expense for gilded dishware she would hope not, but there’s hardly a better explanation. “I just...is Obi coming down to breakfast?”

Zen blinks at her. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

“My thought exactly, Your Highness.” Eisetsu’s mouth curves impishly as he tucks in behind his meal. “You are the one with the best opportunity to inquire as to his, mm, morning plans, aren’t you?”

As if the insinuation wasn’t enough, Eisetsu glances around the table, expectant. He’s anticipates their knowing looks, that the royal party will gleefully seize the opportunity to tease Lilias’s most famous lovebirds--

But it is only met with a quizzical silence. Zen’s narrowed gaze darts between them before he ventures, “What's that supposed to mean?”

“If you’re looking for Obi,” comes a soft voice from the hall, “I think I might be able to provide some assistance.”

They’d arrived here last night, all squeezed in on one carriage bench, pressed shoulder-to-shoulder like sardines in can-- him, Miss, and their little pup. No reason for it either; Master had hopped in with Eisetsu without a whisper of warning, Miss Kiki and Sir keeping pace on either of side of them in case of trouble. So they might have taken up the whole cab, letting Obi stretch out his cramped legs and letting the air carry away Miss’s troublesome scent. It’s just--

It felt right. Charred and dirt-stained and foul-smelling as they were, the moment he’d thrown himself to the cushions and Ryuu had followed, burying his nose in the rent beneath his shoulder, Obi felt...

Home. It was home. And Miss piling in on the other side, the sweet scent of her still there, strong beneath the smoke and soil--

His cock twitches, the mattress rising to cradle it, to give it far more attention than its due. He shifts, just enough that his groan is lost in the labyrinth of the pillow’s down, but it doesn’t help, doesn’t do anything but make him wish her soft skin was beneath his neck. Reminds him that he could sink his cock as deep as his teeth into something warm, into something that sighed at Miss’s pitch--

“Obi?”

It’s an effort to lift his head, to even turn enough so that he can see who shuffles at his bedside. His senses are addled by her scent, searching for it, yearning, but-- but the one in his room isn’t hers. Isn’t one he knows, not at first, not until his eyes finally focus and he’s met with blue in a moon-pale face, dark hair no longer long enough to tumble over his forehead. No, it’s cut to look just like his. In the market, a woman asked whether they were brothers, and he--

He needs to focus. “Ryuu...” Haah, his mouth is parched. “What...what are you doing here?”

Big eyes blink at him in a face he can’t quite reconcile to the shaggy mop of a kid he caught under Miss’s desk all those years ago. The one who hadn’t climbed a tree or caught fireflies or had a growth spurt that made his legs ache. The one who used to smell like the stockroom, herby and indistinct, like he caught a whiff of it through an open door, and now--

Now there’s a musk to it, a hint of something deeper. He’s changing; no, Ryuu’s growing up, and Obi’s not sure into who. Someone better than him, that’s for sure. “Breakfast.”

The smell might be different, less herbal tea and more...forest floor, but it’s soothing. Like a cool compress to a fever, the first stirrings of his rut eases. “Where at?”

If it’s one of those informal grab-and-go businesses, he might be able to make it. Just throw his loosest tunic over this whole situation and stuff his pockets full of food. In and out and no one the wiser. “The usual room.”

Which means the informal dining room. Same as the formal one, but no dressing up required. Grabbing encouraged, but not the going. “Right.”

Intimate, is what Eisetsu liked to call his breakfasts. Table right up close to the spread so everyone can comment on what is and isn’t going on a plate. Best seats in the house to witness his ever-growing situation while he got his bacon and eggs.

Damn. He’d really been hoping for a handful of that sausage. Betas keep their table bland-- they don’t know better, really-- but it was recipe from the old count’s time. Man might have been a bastard, but he sure knew how to spice a--

“Obi.” Ryuu stares at him-- no, through him, brows angled like arrows over his nose. “Last night you ate quickly and left.”

It was that or break his hand to keep from feeding Miss from his plate. Kiki had offered her half a scone and he nearly jumped the table.

“You don’t smell right either.” Those wide eyes squint, suspicion caught up in their corners. A knowing he’d rather the kid not have. Not about this. “Are you feeling unwell?”

There’s a stress on it, unwell. Like the way Sir said indisposed when Kiki spent three days locked in her room after Sereg, or Miss said unavailable when Yuzuri made the whole wing smell like butter and citrus.

“Me, pup? I’m in top form.” He gives his chest a rap, just to prove it. “That perfume rattled me a bit, I’m not too proud to admit it, but everything’s right as rain now. Problem is--” he leans in, conspiratorial “--it’s getting crowded around here.”

His mouth fouls up into a frown. “Do you need more suppressants? I made another batch before we left. I can get them now.”

“Ahh. No, no.” There’s nothing those can do for him now, not with a rut so close even his bones feel heavy, begging him to find someone to hold his weight. “I just. Need a bit. Just a day or two to clear out my nose before I play the good omega again.”

“Uh-huh.” Ryuu hasn’t gotten as far as he has at Lilias without knowing a lie when he hears it. But he’s also got experience in keeping secrets, and Obi knows: he’ll keep this one too, so long as it’s safe. “You’ll let me know if you need something. Or Shirayuki?”

“I’ll tell you.” That’s the last thing he needs right now, having her in here. But her scent... “Hey, Little Ryuu, do you think you could do me a favor?”

“Which is why he’s still in his room.” There’s a tightness around Ryuu’s mouth as he speaks, a grimace concealed through movement. He’s keeping something from them, holding something back, and by the way he can’t quite meet her eye, Shirayuki knows it’s not about the crowd.

“He’s not coming, then?” He nods, tight and quick, before turning to the buffet, plate already in hand. “Maybe he’s finally able to relax.”

The muffin drops from between his tongs, rolling across the table before he stiffly picks it up. “Maybe. He definitely slept.”

Guilt stings her nose, sharp and strong as vinegar. She wants to press, to ask just how he might know that for a fact, but Zen’s snort interrupts her. “That one? I bet. He’s practically nocturnal.”

“I don’t think sleep is the issue here,” Kiki hums, her smirk tipping into a wry slant.

“You know how he leans against a wall with his arms crossed sometimes?” Zen leans toward Ryuu, a grin stretched across his lips. “He’s actually sleeping.”

This time when heat gathers at her collar, it’s not pleasant. No, this time her stomach roils, and the flush spreads like steam, right up to the tips of her ears. “That’s--”

That’s because his work keeps him up at night, she manages to snap her teeth around just in time, and then by morning you expect him to sit at your heels.

It takes a breath-- several, all of them under the table’s intense scrutiny-- for her to catch herself, for her to calm enough to say, “I mean that he’s able to relax now that all of you are here. With you around, he doesn’t have to worry...”

About keeping me safe. She glances up at Eisetsu, his curiosity politely perked. “He’s had a long few days, I mean.”

“Oh, I bet. He’ll emerge sooner or later.” Zen smiles at her over the rim of his teacup. “He’ll sneak out of his room, prowling and hungry for lunch.”

“Oh.” Ryuu blinks from his position at the buffet. “He told me to bring him some kind of sandwich.”

Kiki’s brows lift. “A brazen request for an absentee.”

“He put in his appearances last night,” Mitsuhide reminds them, slicing into a thick piece of ham. For one, bright moment, she believes he might be on her side, that he might defend Obi as well, but then he adds, disgruntled, “Maybe he thought that would earn him brownie points.”

“Clever.” Kiki hums, unimpressed. “Give up time now for a little time to himself later.”

Zen glances down the table, smile brimming with his usual charm. “I do apologize, Lord Eisetsu. He’s usually better behaved.”

“Oh, it’s, ah, no trouble at all.” He spares her a startled look, a question she can’t possibly answer brewing in his eyes. “Last night the man told me himself that he planned to spend half the day in his chambers. Well deserved too, if I say so myself.”

It’s with a theatrical sigh that Zen settles back in his chair, the barest hint of a smirk lingering at the corners of his mouth. “Well, what do we think? Should we forgive him? He did inform the master of the house.”

Kiki sips, too delicate, at her tea. “He certainly laid the groundwork.”

“Agreed. However--”

“I don’t think Obi needs your forgiveness.”

It’s not until every eye at the table swivels her way, aristocratic eyebrows all raised to their loftiest arches, that Shirayuki realizes that she’s spoken. That it was her foot that has come down on the neck of this conversation. But now that she has, it’s too late to stop, to keep the words from spilling out like a tea kettle boiled too hot.

“He has spent the last week getting to the bottom of a conspiracy that none of you knew anything about until after we--” Shirayuki hauls herself short of, we told you. Eisetsu has proven himself a trustworthy ally, maybe even friend; she would hate to ruin it by informing him that the prince of Clarines had been a guest in his house without his knowledge. “Last night he not only delivered the culprits to you, but a key witness, and on top of that, saved...”

It’s impossible to put into words what Ryuu is to her. To them. How frantically her heart had raced when they found that bookmark in the forest, the terrible tearing in her gut as she traced the bloody patterns of their secret knock.

“Shira--” There’s the smallest scrape of a chair as Zen makes to rise, his hand lifting off the table to reach out to her, but--

But one curious glance from Eisetsu keeps him in his seat. Because, of course, to him Zen is merely her lover’s lord, an acquaintance that only reflects the favor he must shower on Obi.

“Ah...” There’s an apology in Zen’s eyes, but it’s only for her. “Of course, Miss Shirayuki. We were only teasing. Force of habit. For an omega, Obi always gives as good as he gets.”

Right. Because that’s what they know him as: an omega, an easy and eager target. Not the alpha who bows his head to earn his place. Not the man who--

“If you would excuse me.” Her chair screeches back as she stands, the room suddenly too small, too hot. She glances at Eisetsu. “My lord?”

He blinks back at her. “O-of course, Shirayuki. Was the food not to your liking? You’ve barely eaten--?”

“No.” She can’t bear to look at any of them as she says, “I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Shira--” Zen catches himself. “Miss Shirayuki, do you need someone to--?”

“No, I’m fine. Just...” She shakes her head. “I need space.”

Shirayuki’s hardly more than a few steps from the hall before she collapses against the wall, tearing at the neck of her dress. She’s sweating, cold and hot at the same time.

“What,” she gasps, pressing her head into her hands, “is wrong with me?”

#obiyukibingo23 #obiyuki #akagami no shirayukihime #snow white with the red hair #my fic #a/b/o au #ans #yes it is BACK because the bingo gods LAUGH in the face of my PAIN #and also because there is a handful of ladies who would not let me rest #this chapter is mainly set up for what is going to come after #more of it than i initially planned!#BUT HERE WE ARE #because if i'm gonna write abo i'm gonna make people suffer PLOT

11 notes · View notes

braveryhearted · 9 months

Text

More obscure muses ( Introduction ) series.

Fandom: Snow White with the Red Hair.

Muse #2- Zen Wisteria.

Age 19-21 ( manga and anime )

Zen Wistaria is the deuteragonist to Shirayuki's protagonist in the Akagami no Shirayuki-hime manga and anime series.

His type of personality is easy going and is a person who is easy to get along with. He's responsible for his castle as the second prince of Clarines. He cares for all of his servants and aides who he sees as his friends and shows respect towards them. He especially cares for Shirayuki since the time he has met her, going great lengths to rescue her when she is kidnapped.

Though he sneaks out of the castle, delaying his work, he treats his title as a prince seriously and cares deeply for his country. As Shirayuki stated, he always thinks about his position as a prince and what he can do for his country. He is not one to become extremely angry or sad, though when it comes to any of his friends, he becomes incredibly serious. He keeps his composure most of the time but at times when he is with Shirayuki, he can easily become embarrassed and even slightly jealous, mentioning that it was normal for her to work with young guys.

He has taken a love for the forest close to his kingdom because it is a place where he can escape to and just be himself, not a prince. Though, while talking to Shirayuki about why he goes to the forest a lot he says, "But it's different now since you're here that's all I need." Overall, he has a very respectable, trustworthy, reliable and friendly personality. He can also be very serious at times. The level of trust he has in people, the faith he has in them, is very great. He is always very honest and sincere. He is good at earning people's trust.

Zen does not prefer to be called "His Highness" by people close to him. Throughout Zen's childhood, Zen has built an immunity to poisons making him almost immune to all poisons. Zen used to be unable to drink milk when he was young. Zen had a tough past which makes him a vulnerable character due to the fact he was betrayed by his friend Atri and was told the truth before his passing. Zen has caught the attention of several people regarding his way of thinking and seeing things. For example to Shirayuki, when they met for the first time or when Tsuruba and Tariga Bergatt met him. Zen is bad at handling perfumes and colds. He also hates being alone during the day, so he tends to walk around the palace chatting up the guards. He's fine being alone at night, though.

#long post tw #long post cw #biography; zen wisteria;;#bio;;#about;;

1 note · View note

apairofpsychotictwins · 4 years

Text

Akagami no Shirayukihime Smol Bros

I stand by my previous statement. Be Hisame Lugis. Be salty. Get engaged with someone who has a higher net worth than your older bro. Then proceed to flex.

Go ahead. I dare you. Tell me I’m wrong.

#akagami no shirayukihime #hisame lugis #izana wistalia #zen wistalia #amakize lugis #touya bergatt #tsuruba bergatt #tariga bergatt

138 notes · View notes

purpledragon57 · 5 years

Photo

ANS Week Day Four - Storm

#akagami no shirayukihime #tariga bergatt #tsuruba bergatt #touka bergatt #answeek2019 #day4 #manga coloring

128 notes · View notes

claudeng80 · 4 years

Text

The Courtship of Izana Wisteria - Reinforcements

The Courtship of Izana Wisteria

Crown Princess Izana does not hide, she merely chooses lesser-traveled routes in order to appear at her destination without warning. The staff has been long used to it, passing the princess in the hallway with only the slightest appropriate bows. Some royals might take offense to such mild recognition, but she knows that here she is a guest in their domain. Anyone who makes trouble in the downstairs will find the way no longer made easy, even a princess. Antagonizing the staff never ends well.

That’s a lesson Touka Bergatt would do well to learn sooner than later, the way he’s strutting and making demands upstairs. For the three days since their engagement was announced, he’s been the center of attention at all times, laying claim to the castle and everything in it. He thinks the game is over, that he’s won.

But Izana hasn’t even laid all her pieces on the board, yet. She has a longer game in mind.

The door flies away from under her hand, as another of those who evades notice in the servants’ passages strides through the space and collides with her. It’s a gentle bump, despite the speed, and Mitsuhide Lowen leaps back to a more polite distance nearly immediately, but for one moment Izana’s hand braces on his chest, for one moment his surprised face is close to hers. He smells like soap. “Highness! I’m so sorry, I didn’t-”

“No harm done, sir.” It’s already the nicest conversation she’s had all day. “May I ask what has occasioned such a hurry? My sister, yet again?”

“No, Zen is in her office. I just- Obi said- and Shirayuki-” He’s editing on the fly, Izana can tell Whatever the story is, no matter how entertaining it’s likely to be, it’s one he doesn’t want to admit to.

Izana sniffs, because otherwise she would laugh. “I shall not keep you from it, then.” She steps forward, and Mitsuhide presses himself against the wall to allow her to pass. Yet again she is the villain of her brother’s cohort.

“Highness?” She pauses, turning, and Mitsuhide’s expression is something new. His voice sounds sincere, but there’s worry in the depths of his eyes. “I just wanted to congratulate you on your betrothal.”

“Thank you, Sir Lowen. It is a comfort to me that at least one person in this kingdom genuinely wishes for my happiness.” His eyebrows draw down, confused now, and Izana lets the door swing shut behind her. She has no time for dreams now, only plans. She must keep moving forward.

She hears her object before she sees him; Zakura Shidnote is a force of chaos wherever he goes, and he’s been gone for too long. “Highness!” He stands head and shoulders above the two maids who’ve cornered him; it always takes the new ones a while to accept that he’s impervious to their charms.

“Zakura, walk with me,” she says, as imperious as the maids would expect, and he makes his farewells with a flourishing bow that will not help him deter pursuit. “It is good to see your face again.”

“Be still my heart,” he gushes. “If my absence is a sadness to you, then nevermore shall I stray from your side.”

“Ass,” Izana whispers.

“Same to you,” he whispers back. “It’s done, they’re safe.”

“You missed my engagement announcement,” she says out loud, letting the breath between speech hide her whispers. “Tsuruba to Sereg?”

“Sereg has a new squire with good manners but no name,” Zakura answers. “Tariga’s at Seiran.”

Izana almost laughs out loud at that. Perhaps that will sweeten Lord Seiran to Zen’s theft of his daughter, having a potential political hostage to foster. If she knows him, Tariga will be hiding swords in her skirts and fighting bandits in her free time before anyone expects. “Good work,” she whispers.

“The accounts circulated throughout the land were so detailed, I almost feel as though I were here. The parties were less elaborate where I was, but the mug of the envoy of the crown never ran dry.” As though he ever traveled as the crown’s envoy and not one of his innumerable aliases.

“Be sure to take your rest when you can, then. With the wedding merely a month off, there will be many things to do.”

“I stand ready to carry your flowers and deliver perfumed invitations whenever your highness asks it of me.” She’ll be asking more than that, and he knows it.

“The florists and calligraphers await with bated breath.” Zakura bows, showy as always, and disappears into a side corridor, leaving Izana to contemplate the truth behind her own words. The chief seamstress was already clamoring for space on her schedule, and florists were circling in the distance ready to talk garlands and bouquets…

Izana has never looked forward more to an inspection tour. Lilias would be just about the right amount of distance, and the wedding planners can demand opinions of Touka Bergatt to their hearts’ content.

***

There are icicles in Zen’s hair, even under the fur of her hood. She doesn’t know how Obi can tolerate this weather bareheaded, although she knows he runs warm. His skin was so warm under her fingers as she pulled that raggedy cowl off his head, months ago. His horse sidles, as edgy as the man himself, and she wonders instead if he just makes up the difference by fidgeting, but a flash of red at last takes Zen’s attention away from her aide and to the pathway on the far side of the Lilias gate. “Shirayuki!”

Her face is a relief, like a warm summer sunset in this frozen wasteland, but the bars separating them pull Zen up short. Her sister is there too.

“I thought I told you not to come here,” Izana starts. She looks far too warm as well, icy in her fox-fur cloak.

“I’m continuing on to Oriold as soon as I’ve taken care of business here- tell me this isn’t faster than cryptic notes.” Grudges are unbecoming, she knows, but so is failing to disclose important information in a situation this serious.

“Fine.” Izana meets her at the gate, and to her disappointment Shirayuki steps away. “It’s an unknown illness, and they don’t know yet how it spreads. It’s not safe for you to be here.” Zen nods, and at the other end of the gate Obi leans on the bars and Shirayuki sidles up close to talk. Whatever she tells him melts the serious expression from his face and he smiles wistfully.

It’s too private to watch. “The city’s been sealed off?”

“Even a guard has fallen ill.”

“Traffic’s already being diverted to the western checkpoint. Mitsuhide and Kiki are preparing the Oriold gate for the change.” Izana nods, and the rush of relief is at the same time welcome and intensely annoying. She knew all along it was the right path to take when something that dire was going on. And yet having her sister approve makes all the difference.

“Good,” Izana says. Incongruously, a smile blooms on her face, and her hair whips around in the wind. “I leave the West in your hands. We will send word when Lilias reopens. Shirayuki! I’ll retrieve our mount.”

Obi’s still holding the reins of both their horses, so when Zen crowds against his warm shoulder, the horses block the wind, Shirayuki smiles at them both and it’s the first ember of heat Zen has felt in hours. “I wish I could be sure you’d be safe.”

“I’ve got a job to do,” Shirayuki answers, and impatience is burning in her eyes. She’s more than ready to get back to it.

“You’ll figure it out.” A horse snuffles against Zen’s back, and Izana rounds the corner behind Shirayuki. “I believe in you.”

Shirayuki holds a fist against the bars and Zen bumps it with her own. She offers them one last sunshine smile and whirls, fluffing through the snow to Izana’s side.

Obi hands Zen her reins. Outside the shelter of the gate the wind picks up, but the distance to Oriold is no shorter for the delay and it’s not going to get any warmer. Icy wind tries to tear them from their saddles as they ride out of the lee of the wall, and Zen can only hope the road markers stay visible above the rising snow.

They’re only about ten minutes down the road, the tops of Lilias’ towers only just disappeared behind the crest of the hill, when Obi’s horse slows. He never asks for what he wants, and that’s a problem. “Having second thoughts?” He only grunts, barely audible above the wind, so Zen presses. “Why didn’t you just bow over her hand and kiss it? You wanted to, I could see it on your face.” This would all be more convincing if she could sound less grumpy, but it’s not easy.

“Did you notice her sleeves?” Obi tips his head and watches a bird circling in the sky. “Shikito bought her that lace. It came from Tanbarun.”

He’s almost too respectful, sometimes. “That seems thoughtful.”

Obi just hums in response. The bird folds its wings into a dive and stretches out its talons, winging back into the sky with a white rabbit in its claws.

“I’d feel better if you stayed with her,” Zen says. “Help them?”

Those gold eyes meet hers for a second, measuring. She can only hope he reads what she wants him to see. “If that’s your order, Mistress.”

Zen nods and holds out her hand, and immediately his reins slap into the palm. Obi’s horse dances once, startled by the sudden change, and by the time Zen calms it there’s not even a footprint to mark Obi’s passage back to Lilias.

#royal sisters #fanfic

12 notes · View notes

obiyuki-beebs · 4 years

Text

115 SPOILER PROBABLY

SCREAMING

DRAMA!!!!

WHERE IS OBI!!!!!!

edited for clarity / extrapolation after it was posted. long discussion ahead. and then edited again so I’ve redone this 3 times already.

THE “PERFUME” IS POISON

I realize I'm asserting this with energy but it is a theory. I think we have enough clues to say it's a strong and likely possibility.

“How precious is this?”

We have seen this bottle several times now.

The following is from Ch 81 when we get Bergatt backstory. Touka lets his younger brothers know that this “medicine” can’t be used on him. Obviously a threat.

Touka is sinister. He probably built up a tolerance to this poison so he could use it safely.

Later, Tsuruba and Tariga vent their fear and frustration training.

“Please don’t ever let yourself be killed.”

A vow between brothers. I like those two.

Next time we see it is at the fort. Touka is attempting to overtake it. His brothers have refused to join him, and we see him come to a conclusion before he enters the fight. This is from ch 84.

Touka decides that his brothers and Zen need to die because they are people he wouldn’t be able to maintain control over.

We have foreshadowing later in ch 84 that House Bergatt exists to regain its power. This leads me to think that this is the soil that the plot we are in now is thriving. Touka and his group of dissenters will not give up.

Ch 85 is THE FIGHT PT 1 where Zen is noble and attempting to hold face while slowly poisoned despite taking the antidote for the powder that had been thrown into the braziers and fires. Mitsuhide and Kiki have joined them and begin fighting with Touka. Mitsuhide cuts him down.

Touka attempts to either kill himself or do something to the group at large.

The Bergatts are also shown to use chemicals to incapacitate foes, such as the powder they threw into the braziers at the fort. Tsuruba tells Obi he should be weary of things handed to him in the Bergatt household. Sorata is giving us context clues that have led up to the moment where the knight is sent to ... do what to the royal pharmacists? Dispose of them? Is he about to confess to Shirayuki? Or will this be an assassination attempt?

Whatever is in that bottle, it’s not good. Color me worried.

#ans #akagami no shirayukihime #obiyuki #meta

40 notes · View notes

soya-ix · 10 months

Text

AnS Ask Game - No one asked but here's my full answer sheet;)

1.Favorite character

It's too hard to pick one because the dynamics among the characters is exactly why I enjoy AnS so much🤔. Let's just say I love everyone equally🥰 (Maybe less for Mitsu tho) (I resemble Hisame even in this regard lol)

2.Character you hate with a passion

Nah I really don't have one either. Sensei's really good at building up characters and it's hard to genuinely hate any one of them.

3.Character who grew on you eventually

It wouldn't be a surprise that it's Hisame but it would probably surprise you that he grew on me simply because sensei's art improved so much and I just can't get enough of his pretty face lol. But of course his personality growth is particularly interesting to me as well.

4.Character with the best hairstyle

Tariga!!!! Let me do your braids!!!!!🤩🤩🤩

Also Kazuki's ponytail yes yes yes🤩🤩🤩

Hisame's casually messy hair has a unique style too😎😎😎

5.Character with the best design

You mean clothes?🤔 I'd say Shirayuki, and Hisame has the potential to be a model as well lol.

6.Character you would date in real life

After some serious thinking I would say🤔……Kazuki!😋 (Wait he's underage isn't he???) But let's just say if it's not illegal to date him x), I think it'll be fun to date someone who's a bit (you sure it's 'a bit'?) younger than me and who's always so cheerful and energetic wherever he goes. He's also simple-hearted and I think it's super cute(ˊ˘ˋ*)♡. Last but not least, JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE💗💗😍😍

Oh and yes I'd definitely date Tariga too just for his pretty face💕💕🥰🥰

7.Character you would marry in real life

Ahh…This one's hard. To be honest I don't think I'd make a good marriage candidate for any one of them🤔. I'll probably choose Izana cause he seems to be busy with work all the time and I get to live a good life but still get lots of free time of my own😈. (yeah i guess marriage is not my thing…at the moment…) But if it's marrying into a noble family I'd rather run away with Kazuki and the Lions😈. (Power and duties❌ Adventure and Freedom✅)

8.Character that is most like you

Hisame, as MBTI and @sabishi-tomo 's quiz show.

Fun fact: I totally anticipated it when I found out Hisame was ENTP (tho ENTJ works for him too) cause I myself as an INTP can't help but noticed how we both enjoy being snarky and sarcastic just for the fun of it x). And also in tomo's quiz I got Hisame as well. I do especially agree with the "self-centered", "live to be entertained" and "like to tease people" parts. Apart from that apparently I'm better at forming close connections with people than he is lol. But the point is I'd be a great match for Lady Kiki YES🧎‍♀️

9.Character with the best redemption arc

I'll have to say Raji. Never thought he could actually transform from an annoying arrogant prince into an adorable royal heir, thank you Shirayuki.

But let's not forget the Bergatt twins. The confession they made about finding their light was so touching I almost cried T T.

10.Ships or characters who you think deserve more love

IT'S NEVER ENOUGH FOR HISAKIKI. They deserve all the love in the world. I'll only stop saying this when everyone on earth ships them.

And of course Kazuki. You know what I mean and I'll save the ranting for your sake.

11.Favorite “villain” or morally grey character

If Raji still counts as "villain" as he previously was then yes I appreciate him but in a comedic sense.

12.Favorite arc

Bergatt!!!!! THE PLOT AND THE PANELS!!!!! My heart was pounding so fast and I just couldn't help rushing through pages as if I was the one in the story trying to seize every second to save Zen💓💓💓. Bergatt will always be the best arc. End of story.

13.Favorite scene or line

I HAVE SO MANY FAVORITE SCENES HOW COULD I NOT??? But I'll present you with one that hit me different during my first read and that is Hisame's proposal to Kiki (the one where he actually succeeds). I wasn't even shipping them that much but man the scene was like🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯and I just couldn't help but go awwwwwwww for them💗💗

And now favorite line, I bet no one can ever guess it's this one:

Sorry I only have the Chinese version with me but basically it's Shirayuki saying: "It would be nice if we get to see the new flower this winter^^." To me, this line symbolizes the very feeling AnS gives me: consistent hope and never-ending positivity in every corner of the simplest daily life.

14.Most hated arc

Not exactly hating or disliking them but the science part in the phostyrias (is that right?) arc is a bit difficult to read for me, and I wouldn't mind if the perfume arc were a bit simpler and shorter. Just saying😜

15.Your controversial take

I'm glad you asked cause I finally get to say this out but also a bit afraid cause it's gonna upset some fans. Just to be clear, I don't intend to throw shade on any ship or characters or people who enjoy them. I'm just sharing my pov👀.

So here it comes: I don't see how Mitsu and Kiki make a good romantic couple, and I don't understand how Kiki fell for Mitsu.

I mean at the very beginning of the story (when it was supposed to be a short series) it was apparent that Mitsu and Kiki were going to be a couple and I could tell that. As the story goes on, we see hints that Kiki has romantic interests in Mitsu. And since Kiki confessed her feeling to him it seems to have become canon that Kiki did/does love Mitsu, and I fully accept that. But still, despite all the hints and confessions, I just don't see when/why/how Kiki fell for him. (Not saying Mitsu is not good enough, just examining their relationship development.) As far as I'm concerned, Kiki takes Mitsu as her most trusted partner and cherished friend. She knows she has to marry someday and of course she'd be looking out for the right candidate. And Mitsu would certainly be her best choice in many ways. But that's it. I don't see how Kiki actually developed romantic feelings for Mitsu. Perhaps sensei just didn't elaborate on that, or perhaps I missed something, in that case please lecture me lol^^

16.Something that you had wished had happened

Man I really wish we get to see more of Kazuki. It's illegal to waste that pretty baby face like that. I mean sensei couldn't you get him a job around Shirayuki? Like being an aide to Obi so that they can take shift to look out for Shirayuki's safety when Obi's away to help Zen or something??

And also I'd love to see more of Hisame's days at Sereg as well, like how he usually tries to be a pain in the ass every time the trio visits^^.

17.Your OTP

HisaKiki (because no I cannot separate ObiZenYuki.)

18.Your favorite rare pair

KAZUYUKI IS UNDERESTIMATED.

Love the chemistry between Tariga and Shirayuki too.

19.Your BroTP

Obizen. That night the way they dealt with their triangle on the deck was absolutely mind-blowing. I've never seen anything like that and I just didn't know it could work this way🤯. Obi&Zen definitely share special bonds and have a unique way of interacting with each other that is essential to both of them.

(Yes I take them mostly as broship but I'm open to other interpretations. I mean I don't really mind what type of relationship they have as long as they're together and they're happy. This applys to obiyuki/obizenyuki as well.)

20.Your NOTP

MitsuKiki. I'm truly sorry. (Not at all😜)

21.Favorite trio

HOW CAN IT NOT BE OBIZENYUKI???

22.Favorite fancontent

I LOVE THE ANALYSIS POSTS ON TUMBLR I LOOOOOOOOVE THEM!!!!!! I enjoy reading every 2000-word essay about how someone think this character has been misunderstood or how this plot is so well-designed or how this detail is supposed to mean something or how……I just love it💗💗💗. Thank you to every amazing AnS scholar who's so profoundly enriched my understanding of the original work💗💗💗.

23.Favorite fancontent that you've created Snow On The Beach. It's just so beautiful. (Credit goes to Sorata and Taylor of course.)

24.A random headcanon that you have

Shirayuki is 100% Tariga's type. The girl of his dreams🥰. (He just doesn't know it yet🥰)

25.Why you picked it up

Haha this one's pure personal story. Two years ago I was binge watching shoujo anime/manga during summer vacation and AnS was one of them. But I only watched the anime back then. It was not until half a year later when I decided I needed some lighthearted mental relief that I thought of it again. So I rewatched the anime, and when I searched about it online I accidentally saw these amazing illustrations from the manga and got totally stunned by the style. Before that I was even criticizing how strange the anime art style is🤣, and the manga was a total surprise!

26.How long you’ve been a fan

A year and a half now.

27.Best part of the series

As I've said before I love how this work is full of consistent hope and never-ending positivity. It's the ideal world in my mind.

Also salute to Sorata's art style and amazing designs.🧎‍♀️

28.Things you would change about the series

Nothing, really. I'm happy with the way it is. It's enough a blessing for me🥹.

29.Things you still don’t understand

Like I said in Q15, I don't really understand how Kiki fell for Mitsu.

30.Did you watch the anime first or read the manga first?

Anime first.

31.Which one is better: manga or anime?

OF COURSE MANGA.

32.The best part of the fandom

Everyone's so positive and kind-hearted and nice and cute and witty and fun just like the characters in the work🥺. Love you guys🥺.

33.How will you feel when AnS ends?

I'm gonna be so sad. On the one hand we won't get any more stories about these people that we love so much, and on the other hand I feel like the community will become much less active when the series ends😢. It's like our days will be gone😢.

34.If you could ask Sorata-sensei anything, what would you ask?

Aside from the loads of questions I have about AnS, I'm genuinely interested in what influenced her most as an author/artist. I love the consistent positivity in almost all of her works and really wonder what works or things perhaps have influenced her in this regard. Or does this positivity just innately run in her blood? Lol. But it's not just the attitude and vibes in her work, I'm overall curious about what influenced her most as an artist.

#I can't believe I actually finished this #Now I need to catch up with everyone else's answers!#akagami no shirayukihime #snow white with the red hair #ask game #ans

21 notes · View notes