Ikepri Clavis - Tumblr Posts

Clavis: someone caused enough damage as is. The crew is upset.

Chevalier: who?

Clavis: It's the people working on this vessel, but that's not important right now.

Falling Ahead - Part 2

Do you ever think Chevalier was just as shy around Yves as Yves was around him? Probably not, but now you're thinking it...

Ages: Yves (4), Clavis (7)

previous part ☆ next part

“Clavis?”

“...And a cinnamon stick, because it smells nice. And a little pickle juice to give it a kick…”

“Clavis…”

“...And a pinch of turmeric for a pop of color. And lots and lots and lots of sugar—”

“Clavis!”

Clavis teetered on the stool, but quickly regained his balance by grabbing the edge of the counter. “What? More sugar?”

Pungent fumes wafted around the kitchen, and Yves peered into the frothing mixing bowl through scrunched up eyes. “Clavis, it looks yucky.”

“That’s because we didn’t bake it yet. You have to bake the batter before it becomes a yummy cake, understand?” Clavis explained, gently patting his brother’s head. Dusty remains of yellow turmeric and white sugar sprinkled over Yves, making the boy sneeze with gusto.

“Goodness! Are you getting cold, Yves? Don’t worry, we’ll light the oven soon. Then we can sit by it and plan the party while we wait for your cake to finish.” Clavis grabbed a wooden spoon and began mixing the dubious ingredients, turning the bowl a more sinister foaming puce with each pass. Yves gulped and covered his mouth and nose.

“No, thank you,” he whispered feebly.

“Nonsense, you’re shaking worse than autumn leaves! Talking will make you forget about the cold, so let’s start with the guest list.” Clavis reached for a jar of crushed scallops and added it to the bowl as he spoke. “Now, who do you want to invite to your birthday party?”

Yves slightly lifted the hand from his mouth. “My brothers.”

“All of them?” asked Clavis. Yves nodded.

“I don’t think there will be enough cake for everyone,” said Clavis, subtly scooping out spoonfuls of batter and dropping them over the far end of the counter. 

“They can have my slice,” Yves offered.

“No no no. The birthday boy has to have birthday cake. That’s the rule,” said Clavis.

“Can I have a different present, please?” Yves asked, turning away from the bowl.

“Silly Yves. This isn’t your present. Presents have to be a surprise, understand? And my real present to you will make you scream with so much joy you’ll say—”

“Aaaah!”

Yves leapt off the stool and buried his face into Clavis’s shirtfront. Clavis grabbed the counter again to steady himself and looked around the kitchen for what could have spooked Yves. But he didn’t have to search for long.

Standing in the dimly lit doorway was Chevalier, a stoic look on his face and a thick leather-bound book in his arms.

“Chevalier, you meanie! You’re scaring my precious little brother!” Clavis whipped the spoon out of the bowl and brandished it like a sword, but Chevalier paid no attention to the impromptu weapon nor the putrid lumps it dripped on the floor as he approached the counter and extended his arms. The book in his hands was sharp and glimmering, a delectable drawing of sweet cakes and pastries printed on its cover, all smartly tied with a soft pink ribbon bow. 

Yves whimpered and slowly poked his face out to look at Chevalier. Too slowly for Clavis to notice. 

“Didn’t you hear me? I said you weren’t invited here!” Clavis shouted, waving the spoon threateningly in the air. Chevalier calmly tilted his head to avoid the “attacks”, but Clavis’s frenzied movements flung globs of batter in all directions. They hit walls, cabinets, pots and pans and plates, and eventually the book with an incredible SPLAT!

It all happened in an instant. Clavis paled. Chevalier darkened. Yves screamed and ran, slipping on the batter Clavis scooped earlier and knocking into the counter. The bags of turmeric and sugar fell over the edge and burst on Yves, leaving him a teeny, weepy, sneezy mess. 

Color returned to Clavis’s cheeks as quickly as it left. “No no Yves, please don’t cry! It’s all Chevalier’s fault! I told you he shouldn’t come to the party!” 

Chevalier set the book down on a clean section of the counter and stepped up on the stool. Clavis blanched once again.

“I mean, ahahaha! It worked! Just according to plan!” Clavis yelled, shakily brandishing the spoon again. “Happy birthday! Now weren’t you surprised by that, Yves? It was a fun little show, wasn’t it? Your big brother won the battle and you’re crying tears of joy, right? Right?”

Yves sobbed harder. Chevalier neatly pulled back his shirtsleeve and seized Clavis by the back of the head.

“I mean! I mean! Lookatallthoseingredientsyougatheredwecanmakeabizillionmorecakesandinviteabizillionmorepeopletoyourpartyisn’tthatjustwonder— NO NO NOOOOOO—!”

Chevalier dunked Clavis’s face into the mixing bowl. It is said that on that day, young prince Yves’s laughter could be heard as far as the throne room on the opposite side of the castle.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAVIS

Happy 1k! 🥳 Could I request nr 9 for Clavis? (Or Napoleon)💖

A/N: It IS nearly his birthday so why not fulfil a Clavis request? Here you go @my-day6 💜 I hope you enjoy it!

Clavis x female reader

First Kiss Prompt: Heat of the Moment

WC: 1551

“Get me out of here!”

Your voice cracks at the strain of maintaining that volume. The dark, damp earth swallows the sound of your foot as you stomp it in frustration. Soon all you’re left with is a mighty glare which you lob at the pit’s edge. Above you is a perfect circle of sky, blue and bright, innocently shining, unaware of the fate that has befallen you.

You press your palms against the cool walls of the pit. They are too smooth, too well-constructed. You would never be able to grasp anything and climb your way out. Not a handhold or foothold in sight. Digging your fingers into the compact earth proves to be an unpleasant, crumbling mess of an idea which you give up immediately.

“Damn it, Clavis,” you mutter under your breath, a hand pressed against your side. The fall wasn’t too far, but it still knocked the wind out of you, surprise lending it a helping hand when it robbed you of breath. “Why?”

Of course there is no answer. Just a few fluffy white clouds that drift into view, stretching themselves lazily across the expanse of blue. With a huff, you lower yourself to the ground, crossing your arms. Your pink blouse is already streaked with earth and the fall ripped the side of your gray skirt wide open, up to the thigh. You yank the material closed as best you can, closing your eyes. Fine. You’ll wait. You’re already stuck at the bottom of one of his stupid hidden pit traps. It can’t get any worse.

The first raindrops are like small, cold kisses, harbingers of a very muddy and possibly dangerous future if you don’t get out of this pit now. You scrabble to your feet, the ground already wet enough to suck at your boots.

“HELP!”

The circle above your head is now gray and foreboding, releasing more and more gleeful raindrops who are happy to be free of their cloudy prison. They freefall towards the royal garden, bringing more and more of their friends along for the ride. Pushing wet strands of hair from your face, you are forced to shut your eyes against the onslaught of steadily falling rain and open your mouth to scream. You’re not sure if it’s a scream for help or frustration or fury but just when you’re about to let go, a voice rings out against the sound of the downpour: “Oh dear, how unfortunate.” A head of twilight hair, dark with rain, and two twinkling golden eyes peer over the pit’s edge.

“GET ME OUT OF HERE CLAVIS LELOUCH!”

He leans down, extending a hand which you grab hold of. With surprising strength, he pulls you easily from the pit and onto the soft, cold green grass of the western corner of the royal gardens. You spring to your feet, full of righteous fire, hands curled into fists as you take a step towards him. The Prince does not move. Instead he regards you, head tilted to one side, a hand raised in a gesture of peace.

“I do apologize, my dear. This trap was intended for a brother who was supposed to be collecting edible blossoms for tomorrow’s tea.”

You shake your head and then grab his hand faster than he can pull away. Fueled by anger, by the cold, damp feel of your clothing as it sticks to you, by the dull ache in your side and the feel of your broken skirt around your legs, you yank him towards the gazebo where you are sheltered from the rain and where he can’t slip away from you.

Clavis shakes his head, water droplets like tiny diamond beads in every direction. He pushes his hair back with one hand, his lips still lifted in a grin.

“Do you really want time alone with me—” His quippy remark is cut short by you clamping a hand over his mouth, eyes bright with anger.

“I was STUCK in a PIT for HOURS!”

You’re close enough to him for him to hear you loudly over the now pouring rain, to notice the rain drops sliding from his wet hair down the planes of his handsome face. Something glitters in those aurelian eyes as they regard you over your merciless hand. You shift your weight from one foot to the other, keeping your hand firmly in place.

“I could have gotten hurt in the fall! I could have drowned in there had you not come along! These pits are a HAZARD!”

How dare he refuse to look away in shame. How dare he keep his gaze on yours, his eyes holding you just as captive as that pit did. What is he thinking?

 ~ Your hand is warm against his mouth, your skin softer than silk.

How dare you smell so good, soaked in rainwater, streaked with dirt. How dare you look so beautiful, tendrils of hair framing your face like a work of art. Your clothes revealing so much and so little. Your skirt parted like the Red Sea, revealing a shapely path to what must be the Holy Land. How dare he want you? You, who is forbidden? You, bright flame that deserves so much more than him…worthless, weak little him.

And yet he can’t help what he feels. 

The thunder of his heart echoes through his veins, the feel of your fingers, the palm of your hand bewitching, conjuring a storm inside him. He is lost in the brilliance of your eyes, a universe he could spend eons exploring. Lost and never wanting a way out, ever again.

But he can’t do this. 

He can’t. 

He must keep this secret locked down in the deepest well of his heart, where the shadows lurk and darkness is a tyrant, towering over a small boy who only wants to be enough for someone. ~

He jerks his head away from your hand, blinking, his muddy boot scuffing the wooden floor of the gazebo as he steps back, away from you. The light in his eyes has dimmed.

“Ah my dear, it was only a joke. All in good fun.”

Something inside you shifts as you feel him pulling away. No. You want to see the fire in his eyes again, that glowing gold in all its intensity. 

You step towards him.

“I see you were offended by my silly trap. I’ll be more mindful of where I place them.”

No, this isn’t what you want. You don’t want him rambling on about his pranks, gaze not on you but the falling rain, his body shivering with cold, his spirit slowly folding inward, closing like a flower bud in reverse. 

No.

You take another step towards him until he bumps up against the curved railing, his hands reaching back to grip the wet, white wood.

“I do apologize for upsetting you, dearie. I— W-What are you...?”

Your body is crackling with frustration. He needs to STOP TALKING about the damn trap. You’re still angry at him for digging it but you’re also angry at the way he is retreating further and further behind that façade of his, that wall of quips and polite distance and controlled flame. You’re practically trembling with the desire to.....

You grab him, fistfuls of his wet coat, and pull him to you, capturing his mouth with yours. He gasps audibly, body going rigid with shock. You will not relent. You want that wall between you gone. So you tear it down with your lips, pressing kiss after kiss against his mouth. You tear it down with your left hand, still curled into the heavy material of his lavender jacket like an iron fist. You tear it down with your right hand, the one that has traveled up to his neck and is holding him there, warm palm against slick, cold skin. You tear it down with your leg, exposed and pressed tightly against his.

Kiss by kiss, touch by touch, you besiege him, vanquishing the cold with the heat of your body, crumbling his hesitation with the strength of your will. What man stands a chance against a perfect storm like this?

You feel when you have triumphed. He snaps as if struck by lightning and he wraps his arms around you, pulling you against the long, lean lines of his body, tipping you back so you’re at a better angle for him to taste. You wrap one arm around his neck, holding on as he comes to life, his mouth moving over yours, deepening the kisses, sending your senses reeling. One hand supports your lower back, the other drops to the skin of your thigh and tiny tornados of electricity dance across your skin.

Was this what was hiding behind those quick smiles? Those flashing golden eyes?

You kiss him as the world around you rages, wind and water roaring through the royal gardens, But desire, which has been biding its time, smoldering patiently, now breathes fire into your lungs, blazes white-hot through your veins.

As you both sink to your knees, still wrapped in each other’s arms, as he tears his mouth from yours to hungrily ravish the soft skin of your neck, you don’t wonder what will happen when the storm fades.

Because you know that this? 

This is just the beginning.

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @redheadkittys @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @queen-dahlia @aceuuuuu @scorchieart @bubblexly

Happy birthday Clavis!🎉

Heyy can i please ask for clavis/8/comfort/2nd pov?💕

Characters: Clavis Lelouch x F!Reader

POV: 2nd person Genre: Comfort

Prompt #8: “Just once, I want to hear you say it.”

Wordcount: 3021

A/N: Heyy @aceuuuuu! 💜Thank you for the request. It was a journey to get it finished, got some angst sprinkled in to enhance the comfort, but I hope you'll enjoy the direction it takes. This is the second installment of my reverse-comfort mini series in this larger grab-bag event. Big shoutout to @venulus for the help talking through how Clavis might react in this situation 💜

**Note: Reader is bilingual.

Even with all three wicks lit, the candelabra still felt eerily cold in your hand as you pushed open the door. Night bathed the library in an ethereal, otherworldly view, as though this was a parallel Rhodolite filled with books and knowledge uncharted in your reality. Exotic, mystifying, and taboo.

You tiptoed across polished tile, taking extra care to mask your steps as you peered down the aisles. Rows and rows of lifeless bookshelves returned your curious stares, but you pressed forward with your investigation undeterred. Prince Chevalier was never wrong before.

As scrupulous as he is stubborn, he had said, with more contempt than you thought necessary at the time. But the more you listened to his detailed first-hand accounts, the more confused you grew that they existed at all. How could a person, a prince no less, possibly find the time and energy to think and do and be all the things Chevalier claimed of him without going mad? It spun your own head in circles simply trying to make sense of it. 

The bookshelves lining the wall all came up naught, but you had scarcely begun inspecting the rows by the windows when you heard it. Soft and faint yet determined to subsist, like the sizzling candles at your side. You moved slower, the sound growing more alluring the closer you approached, and poked your head just enough to see what was down each successive aisle until you found him.

Perhaps his head was spinning in circles. Or perhaps he was mad.

Perched at the far end of the row was Clavis Lelouch. But like with the library, the darkness altered his appearance into something utterly unrecognizable, and you struggled to keep your heart from beating out of your chest as you took in his mangled form. The space between the bookshelves was narrow, barely enough for two people to stand side by side, but Clavis managed to sit on the floor with his head resting on one of the lower shelves and his legs bent in odd positions to fit against the opposite bookcase. Beside him he had set a single candlestick in a jar, the flame so small the melted wax threatened to extinguish it at any moment. His long white coat draped over his stomach like a blanket, and his jacket and gloves lay neatly folded in the center of the aisle. In his hands he held a large book, though it was only one of many open tomes and papers chaotically piled around him. Ink-blotched sleeves rolled up to the elbows and wrinkled collar limply hanging open, Clavis looked as though he was knocked out cold in a brawl with the books, his normally coiffed hair sticking widely out in all directions and obscuring his typically brilliant shining eyes. But you knew he was awake, because the sounds you were hearing came out of his rapidly moving lips like a man possessed. 

Smoke and mirrors are his favorite toys, Chevalier once said. You pushed his voice away, tiptoeing deeper into the aisle to focus instead on what came out of Clavis’s mouth. Why did his words sound so familiar?

Before you could come up with an answer, your foot caught in the folded clothing and the candelabra slipped from your grasp and fell to the floor with a loud clank! Luckily the flames went out with the whoosh of the fall, but in the dead of night, the sound seemed enough to announce your existence to the entire palace. Clavis flinched in his seat, eyebrows climbing his forehead and hands zipping behind his back like a frightened child caught doing something naughty. But as soon as those brilliant shining eyes found yours, his shoulders relaxed and his face broke out in a brilliant shining smile.

“Dearie me,” he said, wiping the hair from his face and sitting up straight. “And what reason could a darling little one have in a scary library this late at night?” 

“I was about to ask you the same question,” you replied, regaining your footing and crossing your arms. “Minus the darling part.” You wouldn’t let him treat this as a joke. You came here on a mission. 

“Aha,” he mused, stretching his arms like a large cat. “What reason do any of us have to do anything, really, if not for our own enjoyment?” He locked eyes again with you, but you noticed him surreptitiously shutting books and flipping sheets over as he spoke. “Life would be so dull otherwise.”

Even a child has more patience. The only way to progress is to play his game.

“You find enjoyment practicing contortionism in the middle of the night?” you asked. Clavis let out a low, mirthful chuckle. The kind you’d expect from a villain who successfully fooled the hero.

“Would that impress you? To learn your beloved prince is so multi-talented?” he asked, moving in front of the books and spreading his arms. “These limbs will bend and flex at your command! Now, my sweet, why don’t you come and test out a warming embrace?”

The only way to progress is to play his game. 

Chevalier’s voice grimly echoed in your mind as you knelt before the prince and returned his hug. The dim firelight from the jar bounced off his tired face, giving him the waxy, droopy visage of an old candle, but despite his ghastly appearance he was nevertheless gentlemanly in the way he cradled you in his arms and drew small circles on your back.

“Even the bravest of us fear nightmares,” he whispered after some time. “But wandering around in the dark? That’s practically inviting anyone to spook you even more!”

Find his weak points, or he will exploit yours.

You shifted yourself so that your chin rested on his shoulder, giving you access to the mess behind him. Even in the low light you could tell Clavis covered his tracks well in his haste; books were snapped shut and loose sheets were either turned over or tucked away. But all you needed was one clue. You just had to stall until you could find it. 

“You wouldn’t spook a scared, darling little one wandering around in the dark, would you?” you asked innocently, scanning the book spines for any legible titles.

Clavis’s shoulders shook as he chuckled. “Well, I suppose that depends. It’s always impressive the more people you can manage to spook, so I might do it on a group. But if it’s only you—” he leaned his head against yours, his soft hair falling in front of your eyes and obscuring your vision “—I don’t know which side of me would win out. The gentleman or the beast.”

The urge to rip his arms off and shove him into the bookcase rose in your gut, but you suppressed it and instead brought your hand to his head and brushed his hair, moving it out of your view as you resumed your search. Of the book spines that faced you, none of the titles contained any letters or symbols you’d seen in the palace, but it was too dark to make out anything more. 

“Now, wasn’t that simply marvelous?” Clavis announced with a content sigh. “I always feel much more relaxed after a warm hug. Don’t you? And now that we’re both relaxed, let’s get you safely back to bed, hmm?” 

Find his weak points. Twist them to your advantage.

“Not yet!” you blurted without thinking, wrapping your arms more firmly around him. “I… uh… I’m still scared.” Though you couldn’t see his face, you could imagine the smug grin he grew.

“How about a lullaby?” he offered. “I recently learned one I just know will make you smile.”

“No, no. Just keep talking,” you said. The light in the jar was almost extinguished, and you frantically razed your eyes across the mess to catch even a sentence. “Tell me what your nightmares are like.”

He let out a breathy wheeze. “I don’t think you’re ready to hear about my nightmares.”

“Why? Afraid I’ll laugh?” you said.

“They wouldn’t be nightmarish then, would they?”

It was no use. Everything on the floor was hidden too well. He was enjoying this.

“Cry then?”

“Closer, but not quite.” 

Squinting in the dark hurt your head, and you shut your eyes to think. You missed your chance. Clavis could end the game whenever he wanted.

The only way to win is to break him when he thinks he’s got you.

Your eyes shot open and bore at the spot he previously sat in. And there it was. The book Clavis was holding when you caught him, hurriedly shoved to the back of the bottom shelf. It was much too far away to read, but the cover was visible enough for you to recognize it instantly; a book of nursery rhymes from your childhood.

You turned your head, your lips hovering inches from his ear. “Afraid I’ll find out what you’ve been studying?” you whispered in your native tongue. 

Clavis stiffened in your hold then rocketed backward. His eyes grew to the size of saucers and his mouth gaped open and closed as he fumbled over his words.

“Wha…. How…. Who—?” 

His expression morphed again and again with each question until finally settling on a bitter scowl. 

“I knew you two were talking about me,” he said darkly, in a voice you had never heard from him before. Not even the bliss of night sky from the windows behind him could soften the atmosphere, and your hands grew clammy as the room took on a macabre tone.

“Clavis.” You fought the worry building in your throat. “It’s not what you think.”

“Did you gather enough intel for your lingui-buddy?” he snarled, standing as he spoke. “Were you planning on heading to his room now or waiting until morning to reveal the latest juicy gossip about his failure of a brother?”

“It’s not like that!” you retorted. But Clavis had already turned away, the pile of books scooped into his arms.

“Isn’t it? Why else talk about a man in the same room as him in a language he can’t understand except to laugh at him?” he asked, slipping into the next aisle of shelves.

“Clavis!” you called, chasing after him. It wasn’t true. Even though you’d lived in Rhodolite most of your life, there always existed that veil of separation between you and the natives you could never remove as hard as you tried. And arriving at the palace as the first non-Rhodolitian Belle filled you with the renewed dread of jumping off the deep end from your first day in the kingdom. But despite his reticent introduction, Prince Chevalier quickly proved to be your most reliable companion in the palace. The conversations you held only served to build respect as he helped you navigate your new role, never to provoke others. Except, of course, when you asked about his eccentric younger brother whom you had grown exceedingly curious of.

So impotent he only shows his true self when he is backed into a corner.

You rounded the corner to the next row of shelves and found Clavis furiously shoving books into their slots, the scowl still present on his face. 

“Listen,” you began, “I talk with Chevalier about all of you because it’s my job.”

“Don’t lie,” he spat, ramming a particularly massive book into the shelf. “We already know who you’re choosing as king.” He turned again and disappeared down the next aisle.

“I still have a few weeks until I decide, and I’d like to get a comprehensive understanding of all the candidates before I choose,” you said. “But as some princes aren’t being fully honest with me, I am forced to consult others to fill in the blanks.” Though hot on his heels, you entered the next row to find it completely empty.

“From the day you arrived at this palace, I have been nothing but honest with you,” his voice called from another aisle, followed by the sounds of books getting shoved back into place.

“You just claimed you only came to the library to bend your limbs until I discovered you!” you argued back, dipping into the next aisle. Again, he was nowhere to be found.

“Correction.” His voice floated from someplace else. “You assumed what I was doing, and I only played along because it was enjoyable to me. I neither confirmed nor denied your theory. It’s your job as Belle to determine truth from fiction. And you have at your disposal the greatest fact-checker ever to set foot upon Rhodolite.”

And deflection is his preferred weapon when others are mentioned. Particularly I.

You huffed as you followed the sounds of his footsteps. Why were those two always at each other’s throats? Why was it so difficult to talk to one about the other? It was as if the castle itself was fueled by their rivalry. So why after all these years could they not settle things face-to-face? Why did you, a complete outsider, have to get roped up in their family feud?

“Why must you both be so pig-headed?” You couldn’t suppress yelling the insult in your language. You briefly pictured the two chasing each other in the library, slinging insults over bookshelves like children. But the image didn’t stick for long; it was far too improbable.

And then it hit you. Chevalier’s excessively detailed accounts of his brother weren’t given out of disdain. They were a plea.

“I may not know what all of those words mean,” Clavis called. “But Chevalier is ten times whatever it is you said. And he’s also a big, ugly, ungracious—Goodness!”

The loud thud instantly revealed his location, and you exited the row you were in and made a beeline for the library entrance. Fallen books lay scattered around Clavis’s collapsed body, and you ignored his protests as you knelt beside him and gently brushed your fingers over the fresh bruise growing on his forehead.

“Do you know what a closed door means?” you said. 

“I wasn’t trying to run away,” he groaned, pushing your hand back and sitting up. Darkness masked him, but you could still make out the distressed lines marking his face and the way his shoulders sagged with each breath.

“Clavis, when was the last time you slept?” you asked.

“This afternoon. I took a nap in the office,” he responded quickly.

“No, I mean really slept. Like a full-night’s worth.”

He didn’t answer, instead busying himself with rolling out his sleeves and fixing his crooked collar. It felt awkward watching him, like you were intruding on him getting dressed, and your eyes wandered to the books surrounding you. From nonfiction to folktales, Clavis had amassed a wonderful collection of works from your home. You picked up a children’s book and studied its cover, the familiar shapes and arrangements of letters bringing joy to the desolate library.

“Why?” you asked, flipping through the pages.

“I already told you,” he said. He clasped the final cuff and turned towards you. “I do things because I enjoy them. Nothing less and nothing more.”

“And I already told you I’m trying to learn more about you. And not just as Belle,” you said, your heart growing heavy. You stopped at a page with an illustration of two figures holding hands, a boy and a girl, and traced their smiles with your finger. “Please, just once, I want to hear you say it.”

Clavis inhaled deeply, then scooted next to you and copied your tracing, his calloused fingers occasionally rubbing against yours. “Would you believe me if I said I wanted to learn more about you in turn?”

“Then why go through all this effort when you could just talk to me like a normal person?” you asked.

He tapped his finger on the boy’s head. “I could never talk to you the way Chevalier could. And Chevalier’s not a normal person.”

He was right. Chevalier wasn’t a normal person. He was a prince living arm's length from his people, but behind a veil. Neighbors, and yet a world apart. A world inhabited only by those who have seen the sun rise through his eyes, breathed the air that blew through his skies, and slept underneath the same set of stars. 

No, Chevalier and Clavis weren’t normal people. They were extraordinary. 

Pale light filtered in through the windows as dawn approached, and Clavis discreetly caught a yawn in the crook of his elbow as he stretched his back.

“I wouldn’t call that as relaxing as a warm hug, but now that we’re both sufficiently embarrassed, let’s get you safely back to bed and pretend this night never happened,” he said. But before he could stand, you grabbed his hand and pulled it back to the book. 

“Not yet,” you said. Ignoring his half-bleary-half-astonished expression, you dragged Clavis’s hand to the top of the page and placed his index finger on the first line of the text. “Your pronunciation needs work.” 

It might have been more prudent to take up Clavis’s offer of returning to bed. Your head swam with the discoveries you learned about the royal brothers, and you were sure they would better digested one at a time while lying in your comfy palace bed. Clavis’s weary head tettered concerningly as you guided his finger over each word in the book and sounded them out to him, and you were certain he would prefer to have this reading session at a time when he could keep both his eyes open. And you were positive that the best thing the both of you needed right now was a restful sleep. It was what Chevalier would say was the logical thing to do in the situation. But as night turned to day, the second prince’s name was never brought up again. And as the sun bathed the library in an angelic, auspicious glow, Clavis closed both his eyes and rested his cheek against your shoulder, and you closed the book and used your finger to trace the soft smile that bloomed from his lips.

I believe one of the greatest ways people connect is through language learning, and I have the deepest respect for those who learn the language of the place they live in when it isn't the same as their native tongue. Also, I realize this fic super overshot the wordcount limit, but to make up for it, Jin's comfort fic will be bite-sized, lighthearted, and maybe even a little comedic.

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⬥◇◆ Clothes Shopping with the Ikeprinces ◆◇⬥

With Act 3 and Silvio's route just around the corner, let's slow down, take a step back, and remember how we all ended up in here. Particularly, how we all ended up in these clothes.

Silvio’s Dubious Preorder ◆◇⬥

*the front door to the clothes shop opens in the middle of the night*

Shopkeeper: Who’s there?

Silvio: Your worst nightmare…

*Silvio drops a heavy bag of coins in the shopkeeper's hands*

Silvio: And your salvation.

Shopkeeper: What?

Silvio: Listen closely, tailor. Tomorrow you will be visited by a pathetic pack of princes with questionable fashion sense. They are in search of new outfits to wear for the upcoming story arc and have chosen your lousy shop as their genius loci. Lucky you.

Shopkeeper: …What?

Silvio: I’ll be in attendance as well, but I’m only interested in an outfit that’ll blow everyone else’s out of the water, so I’ll mostly be observing from the sides. All you gotta do is keep those other guys occupied and catch all the notes I send your way. You’re an experienced man, you’ll know when I’m dropping you a hint. But no one else needs to know about our little deal, capisce? 

*Silvio pats the coin bag and leaves. Shopkeeper puts on glasses and cleans out his ears*

Shopkeeper: WHAT?

⬥◇◆THE NEXT DAY ◆◇⬥

Judge Yves, Round 1 ◆◇⬥

Yves: As members of Rhodolite’s domestic faction, we are the pillars our citizens look towards to represent the values our kingdom instills in art, culture, and conduct. The outfits we select today must not only reflect the propriety expected of the royal family, but also that of our people for generations to follow.

Yves: Jin! Button your shirt all the way up right this moment!

Jin: You can’t cage the collarbones, Yves!

Yves: Leon! Too much detailing will overwhelm your conversation partners! You look like you’re drowning in gold.

Leon: But you’re talking to me just fine now?

Yves: Licht! You look wonderful, of course. But if I had to nitpick, the white on your lapels clashes with your black jacket. Try wearing more color, you don’t want to look like a walking chessboard.

*Sariel slowly backs into the dressing room*

Nokto Seeing Double ◆◇⬥

Nokto: No, this blue vest doesn’t bring out my eyes quite right.

*hands vest over to Licht. Licht tries it on*

Nokto: Hm… and these tassels make my face look too narrow.

*hands shoulder pads over to Licht. Licht tries them on*

Nokto: And these black gloves clash horribly with my hair, what was I thinking?

*hands gloves over to Licht. Licht tries them on*

Nokto: You look great, Licht. Ugh, nothing in this entire store works for me!

*a bag of coins flies across the store*

Silvio: Tailor! No vests, tassels, or gloves!

Judge Yves, Round 2 ◆◇⬥

Yves: Ahem! I’m only doing this because you four are an extension of Rhodolite beyond the borders, and I don’t want you messing up our image in front of our neighbors. It’s not like I particularly care how you dress everyday!

Nokto: Aww, Evie, you care~

Yves: Shut it! Ahem! For starters, the white theme you all have is a very nice choice. It’s a good idea to set up a visual indicator to let others know you’re working as a team.

Clavis: Oh, that wasn’t intentional. This humble shop is simply fortunate enough to have had enough pieces for each of us. Otherwise, these poor white coats would have been prematurely stained red! Hahaha!

Yves: Wha—?

Clavis: With strawberry jam, of course! Chev gets particularly pouty when someone wears white instead of him. I wouldn’t put it past him to “accidentally” sully that poor someone’s outfit with his toast.

Luke: That’s why I eat mine with honey instead!

Yves: No, that’s why we eat breakfast before we leave the palace! 

*Yves swipes the toast from Chevalier and Luke*

Yves: Luke! If you’re going to wear white, you can’t carry honeyed toast in your pockets!

Yves: Clavis! If you’re going to wear a coat over a jacket again, at least make them match in style this time!

Yves: Nokto! If you’re not going to button your vest all the way, you have to wear a shirt underneath!

*Chevalier covers his chest and slowly backs into the dressing room*

Small Talk Sariel ◆◇⬥

*In a quiet corner of the store, Keith looks over himself in the mirror. Sariel notices and joins him*

Sariel: Ah, a modest choice, Prince Keith. Were you to show Prince Yves, I am certain he would impart nothing but praise.

Keith: 🙂

Sariel: Modesty is, of course, cornerstone for a prince to emblem. Although, with our continent so rife with rowdy royals, one would not want to appear too humble, lest he be trampled by his more verbally-inclined peers.

Keith: 😐

Sariel: But too loud a statement piece would have a similar effect of disfavor among colleagues. One would not want to appear too brash in company of those whose opinions matter.

Keith: 😟

Sariel: Finding that sweet spot in the middle is crucial to deduce, and this is the moment to do it. Tell me, Prince Keith, is this the outfit you wish to present to the world in the next act?

Keith: Excuse me, I seem to have misplaced something in the dressing room.

*another bag of coins flies across the store*

Silvio: Make it loud, tailor!

Multi-talented and Multi-purpose Luke ◆◇⬥

Luke: Hey, Yves! How about this? I keep the lid open just enough to stick a spoon in like this, and my pockets get to stay completely… Hey, you okay?

*Yves blushes in surprise*

Yves: Yes, yes! Why wouldn’t I be?

Luke: Well, you’ve been standing by the hair accessories for a long time now.

Yves: Because there’s no one else here. I need rest from evaluating all your outfits, obviously.

*Luke puts down the honey jar*

Luke: Hey, close your eyes for a bit.

Yves: What for?

Luke: Just trust me. Besides, you said you wanted to rest, right?

*5 minutes later*

Luke: Tada! Whaddya think?

Yves: How did you…?

Luke: My sister used to make me braid her hair all the time. I’d say I’m pretty good at it, eh?

*Yves blushes in joy*

Yves: Thank you. But how did you manage to keep it in place? You didn’t use any clips or anything.

Luke: Oh, that’s ‘cause I packed it tight with honey. It oughta keep its shape all week, plus it’s good for the scalp. Bonus!

*Yves blushes in rage*

Life Lessons with Big Brother Jin ◆◇⬥

Jin: Hey, Chevalier. Come try this cloak on, it’ll help cover your…

*Chevalier quickly wipes his mouth and hides his hands behind his back*

Jin: …

Chevalier: …

Jin: Chev…

Chevalier: I was merely inspecting them for poisons.

Jin: Come on, big guy. We’ve been through this.

Chevalier: The showoff apprehended my toast. 

Jin: You can’t eat the roses.

Chevalier: …

Jin: …

Chevalier: The yellow ones taste best.

Jin: So you’ve told me.

*yet another bag of coins flies across the store*

Silvio: Bring me the juiciest rose you have! I know you’re keeping it from me!

Gilbert’s Infinite Hyperspace ◆◇⬥

Gilbert: Are you sure the shopkeeper won’t mind you making alterations to his designs?

Clavis: That wonderful man doesn’t need to worry about a single hair on his rapidly balding head! I won’t be defiling his style because all the additions I’m making will be completely hidden from sight.

Gilbert: How like you to run your dirty work in the shadows. Such fun.

Clavis: I wouldn’t use that particular arrangement of words to describe it, per se. But considering Sariel has egregiously forbidden me from purchasing more than one belt today, I am forced to improvise my carry-on capabilities.

Gilbert: Ah, pockets! How very fun, indeed!

Clavis: Not just any pockets! Secret pockets! And just look at this enormous canvas I have to work with! Only… my hands were full on the way over here carrying Chevalier’s breakfast, so I wasn’t able to bring much of my usual tools to measure. I don’t like leaving the palace without at least a net or two on hand.

Gilbert: You can borrow mine!

*Gilbert produces a large fish net out of thin air*

Clavis: How fortunate, this will work nicely! I do wish I could have brought my trusty shovel with me, though. 

Gilbert: Regular or extra large?

*Gilbert produces two digging shovels out of thin air*

Clavis: Ah... R-regular is fine…

Gilbert: Anything else?

Clavis: You’ve been plenty helpful, I couldn’t impose—

Gilbert: No need to be shy. You still have plenty of space to work with, I see. 

Clavis: …

Gilbert: Try me.

Clavis: …Well, I do like to be armed with more than just my sword—

Gilbert: How about this?

*Gilbert produces a hatchet out of thin air*

Clavis: … Thank you.

Gilbert: What are friends for?

*Gilbert claps his hands, taps his cane twice, and pulls a tiny comb out of the heel of his boot. He combs Clavis’s hair out of his eyes and walks away smiling as the largest bag of coins yet flies across the store*

Silvio: Secret pockets! But don’t tell anyone where they are, you hear? Not even me!

Doggy See, Doggy Do ◆◇⬥

Leon: Find anything you like, Rio?

Rio: Lots! But I’m just not sure she’d like them, too.

Leon: Why not show me what you got so far? I may not be Yves or Sariel, but I’ll bet I can point out a stinker in the mix.

Rio: Okay then. What do you think of this gilded vest?

Leon: Awesome! The color matches your eyes perfectly. That’s good… I think?

*Coin bag toss #1*

Silvio: Tailor! Look into my eyes and get me a jacket that matches them perfectly! No, not a vest! We said no vests!

Rio: Huh, that was weird. Anyway, what about this broach?

Leon: She’d love it! The looped design brings out the curves of your smile just right. That kind of attention to detail is probably really important.

*Coin bag toss #2*

Silvio: Tailor! Bring me your loopiest jewelry! The more hoops, the better!

Rio: Did you hear something? Ah, nevermind. Do you think I should go with one earring or two?

Leon: Hmm… Yves rocks the one earring look—

*Coin bag toss #3*

Silvio: Tailor! I want your gaudiest single earring in my palm right this second!

Leon: —but earrings are supposed to come in pairs, right? So maybe two would be fine. For symmetry, and all that.

*Coin bag toss #4*

Silvio: Make that two!

Leon: Sorry, I’m not too sure, to be honest.

*Rio knowingly smirks*

Rio: Your advice is great, Prince Leon. Tell me, what do you think of these snow boots?

Leon: Well, it’s not exactly winter. But they’re really a statement piece, and she might appreciate a good conversation starter.

*Coin bag toss #5*

Silvio: I need the furriest boots you’ve got in this place, pronto!

Rio: And this zebra-print cloak?

Leon: Chevalier looks good in tiger stripes. I guess that’s basically the same thing.

*Coin bag toss #6*

Silvio: Where do you keep the darn striped fabrics, old man?

Rio: Great! What’s your opinion on oversized hats?

Leon: Uhh… go big or go home?

*Coin bag toss #7*

Silvio: GO BIG OR GO HOME!!

Leon: Hey, Rio, do you hear an echo?

Rio: Nope. Just the sound of a nation’s GDP falling.

I wanted to add a joke about their gloves, but this post is getting way out of hand, even without puns.

Tagging: @queengiuliettafirstlady @violettduchess @venulus @thewitchofbooks @leonscape @rhodolitesrose @venti-tangents @dear-sciaphilia @ikesenwritings @myonlyjknight @ladyofcrowsx @otomefoxystar @my-day6

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Understaffed

Genre: Comedy

Wordcount: 1326

Prompt: In A Flash CCC hosted by @flash-exchange - October 2023: Magic Apprenticeship

A/N: My first entry for the In A Flash CCC! This one was inspired by the folks over on Discord, you guys rock for helping me finish a fic after so long! I will try my best to write some more as the challenge continues. For this fic, it's been split up as 2 separate parts, the first part being mainly from Jin's perspective and the second continuing from Yves and Nokto's. Many thanks to @lorei-writes for the feedback and suggestions. Enjoy!

Jin Grandet was not a warlock. At least, not officially.

It wasn’t because he had a late start. Most children couldn’t even read spells from the rudimentary tomes at age six, let alone pronounce them. And it wasn’t as if he was without talent. It was common knowledge throughout the kingdoms that the sorcerer’s gene manifested strongest within royal bloodlines. No, the true reason Jin failed his Warlock Mastery Examination was far less magical than he’d like to admit. 

But that’s a story for another time. And even if the minimum age to apply was fifteen, it didn’t mean he was barred from trying again another year. Heck, most applicants didn’t even make an attempt until they were double that! But of course, Chevalier came of age the next year, and while the exam was merely a formality for the prodigy, barely anyone bothered to register for that round. Fueled by fiery rivalry, Clavis was hot on Chevalier’s heels the year after that, and Jin was too preoccupied with helping him train to even consider enrolling himself. And just a few weeks prior, Leon passed his exam with flying colors. A feat Jin attributes to his apt sideline encouragement and diligent inspections of Leon’s daily meat intake. 

So what if he didn’t pass? Jin could still perform magic as well as any warlock. He just didn’t have a staff to show for it. Instead, he could boast that the never-before-seen-three-year-streak of fifteen-year old graduates were his students.

“For the last time, we are not your students,” Yves declared.

“And why wouldn’t you want to be?” Jin asked. He waved a hand and the curtain of low-hanging branches before him parted, revealing a narrow dirt path ahead. “I have a one-hundred percent success rate. And you’re my next conquest, Yves.”

“Yeah, Evie. Why don’t you take him up on his offer?” Nokto said, following Licht as they climbed down after Jin. “Then you can tell us if he’s legit or not.”

“Oh, he’s the real deal,” Leon said. He took a steady stance beside a cherry oak and swung his newly acquired staff overhead, making all the barren trees in the vicinity shake and shoot their branches upward like spikes. Nokto watched in awe as Leon calmed the trees down and flashed him a toothy grin. “Can’t recommend the big guy enough.”

“No, no, no, my brothers. You mustn’t let the opinions of others sway your decision making!” Clavis said, pushing past Leon. “Ask yourselves this: do I want to be taught by a syrupy dropout, or by the youngest, most renowned warlock of our age?” He struck the ground with his own staff and the dirt rumbled. Moments later, roots and tubers erupted from the earth like the undead, making Yves screech and trip on an upright rose stem. Clavis laughed maniacally as the plants continued to grow, until Leon whacked him on the head and the vegetary scene immediately reverted underground as if it never happened. 

“I’m younger than you, remember?” Leon countered.

“And I was younger than you both when I passed,” Chevalier added, his pace leisurely as he joined them.

“Yes, yes, you don’t have to remind us again how your test happened three days after your birthday,” Clavis said, rubbing his bruised forehead. “It is insufferably pedantic of you.

“Shall I remind everyone instead of how you only passed because the examiner happened to sneeze when you flubbed the fire retardancy enchantment on your trousers?”

“Like I said, little ones. Follow what Jin says, and you’ll do just fine,” Clavis said.

“If you’re done sharing my many virtues, hurry on over!” Jin called. The group exchanged speculative glances before filing through the unanimated greenery towards his excited voice.

Flummoxed by their seniors’ effortless display of magical prowess, Yves and Nokto insisted they take the lead, bewitching wayward wood knots and saplings from the path. Once or twice they glanced back, hopeful to receive praise for their successful spells, only to find the trio engrossed in their own conversation. 

“Maybe he wants to take us all on at once? Six against one?” Leon suggested.

“Please,” Clavis yawned, stretching his arms above his head and waving his staff teasingly. “He could squash the kiddos, no problem. But he won’t get much farther than that unarmed.”

“He brought his sword. Or is your staff so far up your rear that you did not notice?” Chevalier said, swatting Clavis’s staff away from his face. 

Yves and Nokto whirled their heads towards the track ahead, struggling to keep their attention back on moving the plants. Is that what this was all about? Despite Jin’s domineering stature, they had never once seen their brother in a fight. But Jin also was the most knowledgeable about the contents of the exam, even if he did fail his. Was this the type of error-correcting that guaranteed Chevalier, Clavis, and Leon’s successes?

The path eventually fed into a wide clearing as large as one of the training arenas at the palace. Even in peak autumn, thick shrubs still flanked all sides like a fence except for one; a cavernous cliff plummeted behind where Jin stood, his arms folded and mouth stretched in an expectant grin.

“Are we really gonna fight?” Nokto said nervously, reaching for his sword.

“Alright! Loser gets thrown off the cliff!” Clavis whooped. “Chevalier, fight me!”

“Slow down, we’re learning defensive tactics today,” Jin said. “Magic has limitless potential to attack, right? So it stands to reason that the same should be true in defense. Far too often does a warlock fall into the assumption that one trumps the other in combat.”

“Spoken nearly verbatim from Elemental Charms and Combat,” Chevalier said unamused.

“That means he knows his stuff,” said Leon. “But then why’d ya bring us here too, Jin?”

“No, Chevalier’s right. There’s only so much you can learn from theory alone. We need experience to connect the dots. And I sure as sugar wouldn’t hurt a hair on the little guys’ heads, so that’s where you lot come in.” Jin crouched beside Yves and Nokto and patted their shoulders. “Yves, you’ll spar with Chevalier. And Nokto, you get Clavis.”

Yves froze on the spot.  

“Oh, goodie…” Nokto mumbled. 

“Just remember the basics, and you’ll be fine,” Jin said, then he turned to the warlocks. “And don’t you go blasting infernos at them. We’re out here to prevent unnecessary bystander injuries. But remember, this is still a highly flammable area.” He glared at Clavis, who seemed to get a chill and wrapped his cloak firmly around himself.

“Wait. Where’s my partner?” Leon asked. A quick lookover of the clearing proved Licht was nowhere to be seen. 

“Maybe Leon’s branches pulled him up to the sky?” Nokto suggested.

“Or Clavis’s roots dragged him down below!” Yves gasped.

“Both,” Chevalier said, pointing over the cliff. Halfway down, Licht hung suspended and looking below, his shirt caught on a thorny branch tangled with crisscrossing roots. 

“Licht!” Yves and Nokto cried.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Clavis called down to him.

“Something tells me the branch will snap if he so much as breathes wrong,” Leon said. Licht answered with a shaky thumbs up.

“Everyone, change of plans!” Jin bellowed. “Today we’re doing rescue training. And not a word of this gets to Sariel, got it? Okay, let’s go!” He drew his sword and leaped over the edge, jamming it into the cliffside as he descended.

Shocked, and slightly relieved, Yves and Nokto followed Jin’s lead, the scraping sounds of their blades cutting rock disappearing with them.

“Moron,” Chevalier huffed. The air around him began to crackle as he inhaled deeply and swung his staff in a circular motion. “He didn’t even evaluate the situation for a full minute. And they still wonder why he didn’t pass—”

“You heard the boss!” Clavis and Leon yelled. Together they seized each of Chevalier’s arms and hurled themselves over the cliff, leaving their staves behind.

Listen, it is liberating to write Chevalier, Clavis, and Leon as comic relief side characters. Trust me.

Tagging: @queengiuliettafirstlady @violettduchess @venulus @thewitchofbooks @leonscape @rhodolitesrose @venti-tangents @dear-sciaphilia @ikesenwritings @myonlyjknight @ladyofcrowsx @otomefoxystar @my-day6

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I want you to know that I'm never leaving

'Cause I'm Mrs. Snow, 'til death we'll be freezing

Yeah, you are my home, my home for all seasons

So come on, let's go

Let's go below zero and hide from the sun

I love you forever where we'll have some fun

@venulus

Thank you, Venu! I had a blast, Clavis' energy is very contagious. SIA's snowman matches him a little too well...

I want to tell him "I'm never leaving" and, well, every other part of the song for that matter. Honestly I'd even sing it to him after the snowball fight! (After I absolutely demolish him) and then warm up his fingers and ears from the frostbite.

*Sigh* I once again got carried away... Clavis is just too good at distractions.

I love you forever where we'll have some fun~

Clavis what the fuck.

This is from Chevalier’s route (I’m re reading it cause I’m avoiding Leon’s route) does Clavis think he’s a zoo keeper or something trying to set up to birds or animals to fuck so they can keep the population of said bird or animal alive!?

Like seriously god damn it, Clavis.

Interesting realisation on my re read of Chev’s route.

The brothers that actually realise that Chevalier is speaking and hanging out with a female is his Eldest/Older brother the ladies’ man Number 1 aka Jin and his fool of a younger brother Clavis. They also kinda push them together even though they shouldn’t because of clause 99 (which Jin knows why they shouldn’t.) and Clavis who is only doing it because it amuses him and he’s a little shit. Plus other reasons.

That first picture will make me laugh for at least the next few days until I’m depressed again. But yes this is Clavis.

Clavis in a nutshell

Has anyone done this for ikepri? — Artbreeder series — (Pt. 1)

Okay, so I was bored and instead of finishing the new chapter, I decided to go to artbreeder and expirement... All day. So after some struggles, I made all 8 princes + Sariel and Rio.

In the future should I make Silvio, Keith and Gilbert too? And Emma? I had fun and I'd do it again. Maybe even for other Ikemen games lol.

But nvm, now I present you 10 ikepri characters by artbreeder + my after touch in Autodesk. (I had to do it, usually for their eye colors.)

(This is "Part 1" Because Tumblr doesn't like me, and only allows 10 pictures in one post, so Rio and Sariel will be separated.)

↓

Part 2 here! → Part 3 here!

_____________________________________________

• Leon Dompteur

(His hair is kinda weird, I had to touch that up, since it didn't quite reach his neck. Also, in general I struggled to make his features look right, I'm still not 100% into it, but I had to stop somewhere eventually haha.)

• Chevalier Michel

(Again, the hair. I swear I had to mix almost all of them with females to achieve some longer locks, since a lot of them have that going on. Also, his hair doesn't really reach his eye, and it's curly, but it is what it is...)

• Yves Kloss

(Okay, he was the first that I did, and I still love it! He's one of my favorites, I love how he turned out. Btw, I had to draw his earring, because it was impossible to edit that. So that's why it looks out of place. He looks so sassy tho.)

• Nokto Klein

(He kinda looks like a woman, to me? I had to mix him with multiple females to make his longer hair possible. But I don't hate it. And again; I edited his eyes myself. He kinda has that resting bitch face here, and I'm living for it lol.)

• Licht Klein

(I struggled with him too, to make his features look right and somewhat similar? I had like 3 tries, where I mixed everything into it, but I actually created this on accident, kind of half-hearted. But in the end I liked this the best because he resembles Nokto and they actually look like twins. Plus I had to edit his eyes, beauty marks and hair a bit. He looks soft uwu.)

• Jin Grandet

(Would it be a surprise if I'd say that I struggled with him too? I had to search for really manly prototypes and match them together, but in the end I don't hate how he turned out either. His hair is more brown than it should be, his eyes too, but I don't think it's that bothersome. Ultimate manly dude. Kinda looks like a Daddy material xd.)

• Luke Randolph

(Okay, OKAY. I'm in LOVE! He's my favorite, hands down! I actually made two versions for him; one with a smile and the other as a neutral expression but his smile is everything! I love it, he looks so precious! I might change to his route after this oof.)

• Clavis Lelouch

(I couldn't quite catch his features, his aura/vibe - if you will - well at first, but after some tries it came out good. I think. I also had to mix him with women, mainly because of his purple hair. I edited his eyes and beauty mark, but I was lazy to do his hair properly. He also has two expressions; Neutral and a mischievous one. ;))

Has anyone done this for ikepri? — Artbreeder series — (Pt. 2)

↓

Part 1 here, if you missed it! → Part 3 here!

Let's resume then!

• Rio Ortiz

(He was the second that I completed, and I'm satisfied haha. Although he may look a bit feminine, he looks cute and precious to me. I wanna give him a hug. I thought I should edit his earring but in the end it actually came out as if he has one, so I didn't do any after-touch. And by that time I was also lazy to do that.)

• Sariel Noir

(The unbelievable guy. I think I struggled with him the most. At first I had some good bases, but he looked... Way too old. Then he started to look like a vampire, trying to make his hair jet-black and all. And then his features didn't sit right, but here we are. There's a version where I quickly drew his glasses on, but they look awful, so have the version of him without his glasses too lol. He still looks way too old oof. Plus I forgot to edit his eye color on the no-glasses picture. Oh well.)

Well, this is the end (for now)! Let me know if I should make the 3 new princes or any other Ikemen game characters for that matter, because I had fun and I'd do it again! <3

❥︎ The Queen’s Deceit • Ikemen Prince fanfiction

DISCLAIMER;

1. I don't own any of the ikepri characters and surroundings here, just my OC whom I created just for this purpose!

2. This is my first writing here and on top of that my first English writing! It's not my first language so there could be typos, and grammatical errors (as I'm still kind of learning the language) — in case this happens please tell me, I'm quick to fix them and make better quality!

3. Last, but not least is the story itself and some characters' personalities. Since the plot doesn't follow after our MC in the game, things can be different! Also, some elements were completely invented by me, so please keep an eye out for that too! (Plus, there could be spoilers for some routes.)

• Chapter IV.

"-So you are the attendant Sariel told me about! And he assigned me to help you, at least in the first couple of days. Welcome, Artina!" When I finally reached the other side of the palace, I quickly found the butler to whom it was recommended to enlighten me about more things regarding my newly-found job here in Rhodolite. 

It turned out that he's actually the new Belle's personal butler and hasn't been long in the palace either. But then again, he seems good at his job, seeing that the strict minister trusted him with this task.

"That must be such a challenging job, with all eight of them! Although I'm here only for a month, you can ask me too if you need any help. I'll gladly lend a hand, be it anything!" The new Belle - or Emma, as she introduced herself to me - gave me a supportive and enthusiastic smile while offering her assistance as well. 

She really does have a pure heart. I would probably never do anything favorable for another person if I'm not getting something back... Oh well, cultural differences, I guess. 

"Thank you, too. It means a lot. Only with you guys' encouragement, I'm much more confident about this job early on. Although it depends on the princes too." At my last remark, I laughed, and they chuckled too. 

"That's for sure. I've been here for almost a week now, but there are still princes I can't seem to figure out, or I only see them quite rarely throughout the day. Maybe I should accompany you at least, and I would get to see and understand all of them better." Emma added, clearly determined. 

She takes her responsibilities seriously, I see. The people can trust her then that she will choose the most fitting out of the princes, to be the king in the future. Good for them... if only it worked out like that in Obsidian too. Everything would be different. 

"Since you have a lot to catch up on about your work, why don't we go somewhere more pleasant to discuss?" Rio - the butler - suggested with a small smile and gestured to one of the staircases, cornering the corridor we were standing by. 

"Let's go to the garden! I'm sure you will like the flowers there! They bloom all year, and you can't get enough of their beauty!" Emma's eyes sparkled, and with that, they began to show me the way to the even more spacious castle gardens than ours back in Obsidian. 

Basically, after that rushed morning meeting with the minister and the princes, my day passed peacefully, and I spent it with Belle and her butler. They kept me company and didn't abandon me, and for that, I was somewhat grateful since I still needed to learn my way around the palace. 

Also, they warned me multiple times that my job won't be easy... Not that I expected it to be. 

But starting from tomorrow, serving breakfast to the royals, I'm really doing this. It's been only two days since I fled from Obsidian's walls, and I can't help but wonder what is going on at home. I wouldn't call it homesickness - for now - since it's even quite pleasant being a long distance away from the castle and even the country's borders. 

I just have this silly idea; what if, after some time, here I will forget the darker, chaotic reality of my situation and position in this world... and our empire? 

...Well, this is indeed odd. Are the others still sleeping, or are they not hungry? 

"Watch your step! You almost knocked the plate out of my hand just now!" Another attendant's voice woke me up from my daydream, while we were serving breakfast to the royals. 

Or, just only one of them, at the moment. 

Prince Yves was the only one who came down to the exquisite and commodious dining room early in the morning to eat. 

I had no clue about the others as I was genuinely surprised by their lack of presence, but the other servants didn't seem to care since they were constantly bringing tons of food to the table, restless. 

Will the others eat it later, for lunch? Do they like late breakfast, or what? 

Where I come from, food is a luxury, and even we in the castle can't and shouldn't afford such measures for a simple meal throughout the day. 

Do they not appreciate the people - including us - working for their sake? 

The more I thought about it, the more my blood was boiling, but I knew better than to cause a scene and raise suspicion. 

...You're not in Obsidian, Artina. Get used to it, and swallow it for now. 

"Prince Yves, may I ask where are your brothers and why don't they intend to come for breakfast?" On the other hand, I needed to hear some kind of answer to - one of - my burning questions. Surely he knows something since he's been living with them for years. 

Meanwhile, I put his plate in front of him, waiting for an answer before heading back. 

"Some of them eat breakfast later or oversleep and eat at lunchtime. But it does not concern me... and I told you to call me Your Highness." He said, mumbling the last part without looking at me. Then elegantly picked up the cutlery and started to eat. 

Is it because of their duties? But Yves is here, though... Or maybe it just depends on the day?

I really shouldn't think about this too much. I'm just causing a useless headache for myself and my thoughts. 

"-Why are you still standing here?" Now he looked into my eyes, seeming annoyed just by my mere presence. 

"Well, I was also going to ask if you need help with anything? Any casual matters or duties?" I said quickly, so I don't embarrass myself, clearly zoning out again. 

"...I suppose you are not as useless." He huffed, then tossed me a small piece of paper with delicate, legible handwriting.

I scanned it with my eyes for a brief moment and realized these are numerous ingredients for foods. Again, nutrition. Just when I want to erase it from my thoughts.

"Go to town and get me all of these by the afternoon. It shouldn't be too hard, so you better not mess it up." He addressed me sharply, and I only nodded, then left him alone. 

That's right, this shouldn't be too challenging; I only have to do some shopping. 

"I'm beyond flattered that you decided to join us in such early hours in the morning, Lady Artina." Clavis smiled, sitting across from me in the carriage. 

I literally didn't have a choice since you guys half-dragged me up here, but yes, I'm beyond flattered too. 

"And this maid outfit suits you and your body quite nicely- if I might add." I looked to Nokto beside the purple-haired one, rewarding me yet again with a sly smile and a flirty tone. 

...Don't even get me started on this dress; it's not even functional enough. It's only for pleasing the eyes, but wearing it gets quite the hustle. 

"Although I prefer women showing their legs more, I think this dress still covers too much." Come on, Clavis, don't play along..!

"The more skin exposed, the better for me. I think the neckline could show a little bit more." Nokto added again. 

"I don't think you should tease Artina on this." Said Luke from beside me, in a defensive tone. "Don't worry, they are not serious though." He turned to me with sincerity and kindness in his eyes and smiled. 

"-But I might add too that I like ruffles, so more of them would be kind of nice, I guess." He confessed, at last. 

"Oh, so you like the cute types then, Luke?" Nokto pushed on the topic even more. 

Never mind about defending. Also, why is Prince Chevalier's faction telling me about their ideal types of maid outfits? And where's Chevalier himself anyway? I'd like to imagine that at least he would make them quiet. 

"Might as well, don't you guys want to tell me Prince Chevalier's preference? Seeing that all of you are eager to share your own, schamlos." I blurted out, not watching the way I phrased the sentence. 

"Huh? What was that last word you said?" Luke asked, confused. 

...I know that my rule in life is that 'If nobody's going to do it, then I will.' but I didn't quite mean it to blow my cover when I thought about it at first! 

At least I'll save other people the time and energy of investigating me, as it's been proven that I'm not good at hiding my identity!

Never mind; now that my speech backfired, I might as well save myself too.

"Shameless, if you want it spelled out. I just got tongue-tied for a second because of your teasing." Yeah, it sounds like a valid excuse, way to go.

"You get tongue-tied interestingly." Clavis chuckled. 

I looked elsewhere, sighing, and finally felt the carriage take off. 

At least, that saves me from witnessing or creating more embarrassing and suspicious moments for myself, and from now on, I will be just concentrating on the scenery that is rushing past us at a fast pace. 

That way, maybe I will forget this weird exchange as soon as possible.

"By the way, we are going to the center of the town, right?" I asked hesitatingly after a couple of minutes.

"Yes, we have some business there." Nokto answered curtly, now his attention occupied by some papers lying in his hands.

I faintly nodded - not that he would see it since he was focusing on something entirely different. 

...At least I'm going where I'm supposed to. 

The sun was shining high and bright on me that forenoon, and I was having a good time shopping and navigating through the town center. 

I'm on my own in a foreign country, which is, moreover, enemy territory for me. I should be wary and uneasy, but I'm not. 

As the mighty lightning orb in the sky was hinting at everything in a pure golden glow, it hinted away my worries too for a couple of hours. 

For the first time it didn't feel like I was that much different from the ordinary townspeople. Everyone - including me too - was just enjoying the sun and good weather, it was that simple. I felt the same familiar feeling that they could be feeling as well. Ordinary... feelings that they must have felt. Yeah, it's been so long since I've felt ordinary, - or normal at all. Never before.

But as my small journey slowly came to a close, the heavy bags in my hands weren't the real things that weighed me down at that moment. Rather, they were my thoughts and my mind. 

I kept comforting myself while I traveled back to the palace, now in silence since the three princes had an entirely different business from mine in the center. But I didn't miss them; I was grateful for the peaceful silence until I was back in the lions' den. 

After I arrived safely at the palace, I immediately headed for the master kitchen to set the numerous ingredients there. 

I was sure that Prince Yves wouldn't like me to deliver the shopping bags to his room, although the face he would make might be funny and worth it. 

But I knew better than that and still chose the kitchen to safely pack away the flour, eggs, and baking oils. 

I wonder why he needed so many of these? Did he request it for the servants in secret? Because right now, I can't imagine what he, alone, would do with loads of baking supplies.

The following morning I was weirdly relieved to see more than just one royal sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast. 

Other than Prince Yves, Prince Leon and Prince Jin was also seated close to the younger, pompous prince. 

Prince Leon already had a plate in front of him, so I went to Prince Jin, hoping to serve him some real food... Seeing that he was fiddling with a lollipop's wrapping. 

"Good morning, Prince-" I quickly realized my mistake before cutting my sentence short. But I already captured his attention, and he was looking at me and listening, now with a small but pleased smile. "Sorry, I meant to say Jin. Can I serve you some breakfast?" I automatically looked down at his lollipop, which he was still fiddling with. I hope he notices my intentions.

"Morning, Artina! Yesterday I didn't even see you in your adorable maid dress! I must say it fits you well." He complimented me with a broad smile, and before speaking again, he popped the - now wrapping-free - lollipop in his mouth. "About breakfast, don't strain yourself. I rarely eat breakfast in the mornings. But I enjoy seeing my brothers get their bellies full. Why don't you too, join us instead? It's the best when everyone eats together in a lively space, don't you think?" I suddenly found myself considering his offer with a good feeling accompanying it in my stomach. Fair enough, I was indeed hungry. 

"Very well then. If that's your wish." I gave in and sat down, opposite Prince Jin and pulled a plate of food in front of me.

"Lady Artina, good morning! It's good to see you're eating with us too." Prince Leon greeted me, a couple of seats away.

Yves at the other side of the table, opposite Prince Leon, just silently grumbled something, but I took it as a greeting too. 

"Much better. See? That's what gets the people bonding." Jin laughed, still completely satisfied with his lollipop.

...He wants me to bond already?

I let him be, didn't wanted to force anything, and started to eat quietly. 

"Oh, also, I almost forgot to thank you for yesterday's feast!" Prince Leon rose from his seat a couple of minutes later, indicating that he had finished his meal. 

"Excuse me? I didn't put together any kind of feast. I just went shopping in the morning-" I was slightly confused about what he was trying to imply. 

"Well, without your shopping, Yves here probably couldn't have made his delicious desserts for us in the faction room by the evening! We were celebrating some recent accomplishments, and he was so generous that he baked for us again!" Jin exclaimed proudly, patting his brother's shoulder by stretching out over the several empty chairs separating them. 

Wait... So Prince Yves bakes? Furthermore, he bakes desserts? I admit I didn't expect that, but that's such an adorable gesture! 

"Well, I'm glad to be of help, always!" I smiled genuinely at the end.

Why do I feel giddy all of a sudden? This is just a conversation at breakfast.

"-You don't have to tell it to every single breathing creature in this castle, you know. It was just a small gesture, nothing more." Yves looked up, scolding his older brother hastily, but I saw that his ears turned a bright shade of red because of our exchange.

"Don't be shy, we enjoyed it very much. And we're always looking forward to your dainties!" Leon added, smiling at the younger one, and went to pat his head too. 

I just quietly enjoyed the brothers' interaction from my seat while munching on my breakfast. 

It was nice seeing them being friendly with each other, it lifted my mood too. It also made me suddenly remember my own family, especially my brother. 

It's not like we used to be like this... we were never that friendly around each other, it was more like respect and a strong sense of trust, but nonetheless, these were the kind of moments I appreciated with Gilbert while we were younger. 

Good memories, I suppose.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

(I feel like this is the third boring chapter in a row now. Please tell me I’m the only one who feels this way...!)

TTS Princes, Ep. 2: A Very Fancy Bag

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(turn on sound! mind the volume!)

(I was definitely thinking of that fanart of AmongUs!Gilbert by _optlikz on twitter when I made this)

Please don't repost or put into a compilation

More Gilbert

⚠️•⟨WARNING⟩•⚠️ 16+ None, Fluff, F!MC ⟨Oneshot⟩

A while after Chevalier's coronation MC started visiting the orphanage and initiated donation campaigns for it, and of course, the first to donate to her campaign was her fiance and now king, Chevalier.

today chevalier was sitting on a bench in the gardens of the orphanage, reading his book as usual. MC was reading to all the children in the orphanage, it was a routine that had started in order for her to have a break from her studies at court and preparations to be Chevalier's fiance.

Next to Chevalier sat a little girl who was determinedly trying to read one of his books. Chevalier cast a single glance at her before sighing loudly "The material is too complicated for you to read." He spoke. Sofia- the little girl shut the book closed and sneered at him "Maybe if a certain white-cloaked man helped me I would have been able to read." Chevalier replied "I am not obliged to help you, you want to read it? then learn how to on your own."

"You're as unsympathetic as ever!" Sofia frowned

"heh, just who do you think you're conversing with?" Chevalier smirked at her. "Some brutal beast, as you always refer to yourself. However! you're always snuggling against MC's lap like a little cub!" Sofia retorted with a large smug grin. "In other words, you're a snuggly little cub desperate to have aaaal of MC's attention and not some brutal beast!" she said then scooted closer to Chevalier who had a cold expression. "Help me read this! What does this word mean?" Sofia asked as she pointed her finger under a word on her book's page.

"Devour" Chevalier read "it Means to eat something quickly, greedily, or to destroy something rapidly." Chevalier read the other lines on the page for context,

"The house was devoured by flames"

"Oh, Alright. So the flames destroyed the house in no time." Sofia spoke.

"Correct." Chevalier agreed.

"Okay! Next... what does this word here mean?"

‹⋆✦⋆›

Days passed by like this- with Chevalier reading and Sofia sitting right beside him.

the girl was intelligent for her age, always thinking outside the box and outsmarting those around her, attentively paying attention to any and every piece of advice Chevalier had given her, and coming up with her own solutions for problems.

And she never once feared Chevalier. She never backed down or got nervous under his piercing cold gaze and even befriended him.

Needless to say, Chevalier was impressed. she had a better functioning brain than many of the adults around her and most of his brothers included.

he could call her a genius. A genius which is born once every 1,000 years.

Alas, here he is, standing before the orphanage as he waits for her to emerge through its thick wooden doors- having signed all adoption papers earlier and officially making her his child, a member of the royal family and a legitimate heir by giving her his last name.

Sofia soon appeared, carrying a backpack and led by one of the child caretakers. her eyes twinkled and she smiled brightly up at Chevalier as she rushed towards him and hugged him.

Chevalier startled at the sudden display of affection and roughly patted her back.

"Let us leave." He said, then he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes

"Ugh, Put me down this instant! If you're going to carry me like this then I can walk!" Sofia complained as she struggled to get out of Chevalier's grip. "Keep moving and I'll drop you," Chevalier warned her, an amused smile plastered across his face.

Sofia didn't say anything more as Chevalier carried her to the carriage where MC was waiting for her and Chevalier.

Chevalier set her down once they were in the carriage and MC immediately flung herself all over Sofia, clearly excited to have her. Chevalier watched amused as MC babied Sofia and cooed at her, clearly embarrassing her while she was trying to turn down MC's proposal of getting her lots of dresses and toys as gently as she could. at last, she cast a glance at Chevalier with a look that screamed "Please help me"

Chevalier smiles at his new little family and his chest feels warm and fuzzing as he pulls MC and hugs her close to him.

Nobody knows what the future holds, but he will protect his new little family and he will continue to protect Rhodolite against any acts of aggression from obsidian. here and now, he vows to himself to keep the two people most important to him safe forever.

As Chevalier finishes his vow, the carriage door is flung open abruptly and a purple-haired man enters it.

"Hello, my sweet little niece! your favorite uncle Clavis has arrived!"

The soft warm feeling Chevalier had felt in his chest moments ago is now replaced by annoyance as he grabs Clavis by the scruff of his neck and mercilessly throws him out of the carriage.

MC frets and worries about Clavis being hurt after the way he was thrown out but Chevalier simply shushes her by saying that, "That fool" was interrupting their time together and that his good-for-nothing brother will be fine.

"That was rude of you." Clavis complained from outside the carriage, now following it by riding on horseback, "But worry not my sweet little niece, you'll get to meet your fascinating uncle Clavis soon!"

What a nuisance.