1. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    He bit his lip and squeezed his eyes shut, his hands clinging to Walter's. Not too tightly - always afraid to hurt someone. "No," he said a bit too quickly, those defenses so ingrained into him building back up. Eyes opened and stared vacantly down at their hands. Umber, drained of their...
  2. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    In those few moments that stretched on, yet still were not nearly long enough, Aelius could feel how much the man needed something like this. Just like how Aelius had needed that breakdown, to be held and to cry. Walter still didn't cry, and he didn't blame him. It was a lot. All of this. It was...
  3. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    It began just as expected. Aelius was almost never turned down - so the lean in to his touch, the eyelids lowering, the soft compliments, and the hand on his cheek... it was all expected, and it was all eaten up. He savored seeing the lord like this. The fingers along his cheek elicited a soft...
  4. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Aelius's smile widened and he scoffed softly. "Since day one. How could I not, Lord Tall-Dark-and-Mysterious?" He was delighted to see that little smile and flush on Walter's face. "Glad you don't want me to leave quite yet. I was afraid my prying may have ruined our night. You..." His hand...
  5. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Ratcity

    The man laughed lightly, like chimes in a church garden. It was far too soft for a man of his stature, of his history. "Indeed! A good thing I stick to the land, then. I don't think I'd mix well with water." Fool was he to take this contract. "Daniyah, a pleasure." As she got the attention of...
  6. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Aelius' eyes drifted between the two as they had their back and forth; the polite power struggle felt all too familiar, as he'd seen this very thing happen far too often between the High Clerics and other nobility. So Aelius did as he always did: sat back, sipped at his drink, and waited for...
  7. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Aelius took another swig as he listened to the pair; it wasn't often he truly wished his constitution wasn't like an incinerator when it came to alcohol... but getting drunk sounded ideal right now. He didn't like feeling frightened. And he didn't like... the pit in his stomach he got after...
  8. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    At first, Aelius found a warmth to his cheeks at Walter's sudden boldness; the softly spoken 'sweet lamb', despite - and maybe a little because of - the underlying threat in its tone had him a little excited. People didn't talk down to him. So being called something so... almost condescending...
  9. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    "Caretakers?" He tilted his head and frowned, eyes flickering up in thought. "...No, caretaking isn't quite right. They and I stand on close to even footing in regards to our stations in the temple; the High Clerics are chosen by The Heavenly Father to serve him," That's what they told Aelius...
  10. Aelius of the Dawn

    Open Surely we'll sing of no little thing

    Chin still resting on his palm, drink swirling in his free hand, Aelius listened with rapt attention. There was a particular sparkle in his eye as the lands foreign to him were illustrated with such fondness, like the glint of sunlight reflecting off the sea at dawn. He ate up every word. With...
  11. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    "A sad thing to hear! Why woo someone if you don't find anything about them interesting? Mine, they're all very lovely people, and keep me quite busy when I don't need to attend temple duties. I've become rather mediocre at a great many things thanks to them." He laughed softly, then leaned in...
  12. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Ruby eyes trailed after the man as he slipped out of the room to greet the attendant - eyes flickering over his form for a moment before he disappeared out the door. His thoughts briefly touched back on the way Walter's hand so quickly snatched his wrist, a polite but firm denial. It wasn't...
  13. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    '- but I have seen some of him a couple days ago, seemed quite - affable,' Aelius' eyes slid away, mind flickering back to those moments of weakness. He tried to hold back a cringe and was mostly successful, though there was still a small wrinkle to his nose. It wasn't that he particularly...
  14. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Lips parted, closed. A 'But,' rested on pursed lips. Slowly his bright expression sunk into something of a pout. "A nobleborn knight?" he repeated under his breath, incredulous. He'd... nearly forgotten these lands were - Godless, heathens, lost in the dark and in need of Ko's light; there were...
  15. Aelius of the Dawn

    Open Surely we'll sing of no little thing

    There was a brief twitch of a brow at Momo's comment on Aelius' divine heritage, but bright smile remained. "Burden?" He repeated, almost incredulously. "It is a blessing." Words he'd been told a million times over, repeating aloud now. No matter how much he saw it as a burden, the High Clerics...
  16. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Aelius side eyed the man at the reassurance; he was still worried, of course, even if there were no physical wounds. His eyes glanced over the bandaged hand, traced the pronounced angles of his face. There was a toll, it seemed. The poor man. As the shirt was laced back up, Aelius couldn't...
  17. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    There was a jingle to each step, though not the same as always. The paladin's golden hair ornaments were missing, though something clinked like coins in his pack slung over his shoulder - and, of course, the delightful sound of spirits being jostled around. His face was still adorned with those...
  18. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    By the time Aelius felt reasonably clean enough (and like he had given Walter enough time to decompress, hopefully, after the paladin himself spent a few hours just collapsed on the bed butt-ass-naked), he threw the clean clothes on and started back over to check on the lord. He didn't even get...
  19. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Aelius' eyes were squeezed shut as his face was buried in the other's neck, trying to keep any more tears from falling. It didn't work. The crumpled man - his perfectly carved divine figure broken and crumbling - could only hold listen and hold tight. But not too tight, lest he break him, too...
  20. Aelius of the Dawn

    Private Stillwater

    Smile faded, gaze settling, cooling, on the lord before him as Walter spoke his name. He could feel a lump in his throat, tears threatening even though hardly anything had been said yet. Maybe it was the quiet way he said Aelius' name, or how miserable Walter looked - like how Aelius felt, or...
Back
Top Bottom