This post is an amalgam of pieces of a few other stories, bridging a relatively short gap of time. There's a certain key (and probably still obvious) element left out which is still canonical, but I'm de-emphasizing it for sake of streamlining the character. As always, if you're interested in the originals of these, you can find them here. Please pay attention to the content guide at that link if you choose to read them.
![[Image: tumblr_nzosx0UbEK1v0ltaqo2_r2_1280.png]](https://40.media.tumblr.com/ad3bee96533553de4327d8fcd1defd67/tumblr_nzosx0UbEK1v0ltaqo2_r2_1280.png)
After that Aden saw Ves daily, before and after training, and they traded stilted, awkward pleasantries. He supposed it only fair, that Ves had had some of Aden’s heart’s blood on his fingers, and now Aden had some of his too, if a less physical kind.
Finally Aden decided it was too strange to be coincidence that he saw Ves so often, and he thought to ask, “Are you stalking me?†The very tip of his tail twitched, a measured side-to-side in time with his step.
“No.†Ves grinned down at him, pointed down the street past the cafe they’d had breakfast at. “I live right down there, with a couple of other quivermen who didn’t care for the barracks. You just happen to be on my way home and my way out.â€
That satisfied him, both comforted and discomfited by the thought that he was merely entertaining a paranoid fancy.
Four more days, and Aden came out of the guild to find Ves waiting to walk with him. Unusual, but it was becoming more common. Aden turned to wave when someone called out after him, then Ves fell in step as they left.
“What are you doing twelve days hence?†seemed a strange way to start a conversation, but then Ves was more than passing strange.
Aden shrugged. “What I do every day.â€
“Eta’s oldest daughter is getting married.†Aden looked up at him, ears perking and swiveling forward. “I happen to have a spare invitation to bring a guest.â€
One ear flicked to the side, but stayed, and his tail remained carefully still as he walked. After a long moment of silence Aden said, “I don’t know her very well,†voice quiet.
“I think it would make Eta happy to see you there, though. She knows you’re in town.â€
Aden looked down, choosing to inspect the road rather than make sense of Ves’ expression. “I haven’t been to a bonding since I was a child. And all of my formal things are back home.â€
“We can get you new ones.†Ves leaned down a little, trying to catch Aden’s peripheral vision. “I know a tailor. Pick a day, tell the guild you won’t be in. We’ll make a day of it.â€
In the midst of another long silence Ves drew back to his full height, watching Aden. Aden’s tail twitched with each step, quick, thoughtful motions. But he didn’t look up. Ves sighed quietly, put his hands in his pockets
At the end of their walk Aden stopped, one foot on the front step of the house he stayed in. He turned, looking up at Ves, made eye contact for a moment. Then, “Three days from now. Mid-morn.â€
Smiling broadly, Ves nodded. “I’ll be here.â€
Visiting the tailor went thankfully without incident, even when Aden haltingly criticized the her rough drape--he was used to formal riding gear as the closest he got to real formalwear, but she obliged his perhaps ill-considered suggestions. For a few days Aden didn’t see Ves, wondered if perhaps he’d done or said something wrong. He didn’t think much of it, though he caught himself looking for glimpses of blond hair in a tight queue and the arc of a bow in crowds in the right places.
A week before the ceremony Ves reappeared, waiting outside the guild hall when Aden left. Aden took a couple of hesitant steps, but then they fell in together. “Been busy?â€
“I had some things to sort out,†Ves said. He looked down, smiling softly, gave a little nod. “They’re sorted now.â€
They made it halfway before Aden said, “Isn’t the Quiver’s headquarters clear across the city?â€
“I know a shortcut.â€
The explanation rolled off Ves’ tongue a little too easily, but Aden didn’t challenge him on it.
In Stitches
After that Aden saw Ves daily, before and after training, and they traded stilted, awkward pleasantries. He supposed it only fair, that Ves had had some of Aden’s heart’s blood on his fingers, and now Aden had some of his too, if a less physical kind.
Finally Aden decided it was too strange to be coincidence that he saw Ves so often, and he thought to ask, “Are you stalking me?†The very tip of his tail twitched, a measured side-to-side in time with his step.
“No.†Ves grinned down at him, pointed down the street past the cafe they’d had breakfast at. “I live right down there, with a couple of other quivermen who didn’t care for the barracks. You just happen to be on my way home and my way out.â€
That satisfied him, both comforted and discomfited by the thought that he was merely entertaining a paranoid fancy.
Four more days, and Aden came out of the guild to find Ves waiting to walk with him. Unusual, but it was becoming more common. Aden turned to wave when someone called out after him, then Ves fell in step as they left.
“What are you doing twelve days hence?†seemed a strange way to start a conversation, but then Ves was more than passing strange.
Aden shrugged. “What I do every day.â€
“Eta’s oldest daughter is getting married.†Aden looked up at him, ears perking and swiveling forward. “I happen to have a spare invitation to bring a guest.â€
One ear flicked to the side, but stayed, and his tail remained carefully still as he walked. After a long moment of silence Aden said, “I don’t know her very well,†voice quiet.
“I think it would make Eta happy to see you there, though. She knows you’re in town.â€
Aden looked down, choosing to inspect the road rather than make sense of Ves’ expression. “I haven’t been to a bonding since I was a child. And all of my formal things are back home.â€
“We can get you new ones.†Ves leaned down a little, trying to catch Aden’s peripheral vision. “I know a tailor. Pick a day, tell the guild you won’t be in. We’ll make a day of it.â€
In the midst of another long silence Ves drew back to his full height, watching Aden. Aden’s tail twitched with each step, quick, thoughtful motions. But he didn’t look up. Ves sighed quietly, put his hands in his pockets
At the end of their walk Aden stopped, one foot on the front step of the house he stayed in. He turned, looking up at Ves, made eye contact for a moment. Then, “Three days from now. Mid-morn.â€
Smiling broadly, Ves nodded. “I’ll be here.â€
Visiting the tailor went thankfully without incident, even when Aden haltingly criticized the her rough drape--he was used to formal riding gear as the closest he got to real formalwear, but she obliged his perhaps ill-considered suggestions. For a few days Aden didn’t see Ves, wondered if perhaps he’d done or said something wrong. He didn’t think much of it, though he caught himself looking for glimpses of blond hair in a tight queue and the arc of a bow in crowds in the right places.
A week before the ceremony Ves reappeared, waiting outside the guild hall when Aden left. Aden took a couple of hesitant steps, but then they fell in together. “Been busy?â€
“I had some things to sort out,†Ves said. He looked down, smiling softly, gave a little nod. “They’re sorted now.â€
They made it halfway before Aden said, “Isn’t the Quiver’s headquarters clear across the city?â€
“I know a shortcut.â€
The explanation rolled off Ves’ tongue a little too easily, but Aden didn’t challenge him on it.
