vatheon | Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things

Entry tags:

ioder algios heurassein

Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things

who: Ioder, and anyone who wants to bother him
where: the park
when: late afternoon moving in to early evening, 9/14
style: I'll follow
status: OPEN ~~because I just gotta post all the open logs, don't I? also forgive the completely random tl;dr. Basically Ioder is practicing archery.~~

"lel twa jomenti al fo letimu...

el tsah tjumeni jah hun mu.."

Once upon a time, a servant of the royal estate would walk the halls as she worked, singing strange, yet beautiful tunes in a language Ioder did not understand. She was old, hunched and small, but she had a surprisingly steady hand and a crystal clear voice. She was the oldest of the manor staff, and well respected by those under her, but when she was not required to be strict and matronly she had a warm laugh that would light up her sky blue eyes like the sun sparkling on the ocean. Many of the younger female staff had learned the songs from her, and there were days when the entire kitchen would erupt in to a chorus of voices mixing together.

Ioder vaguely recalled that his father actually rather enjoyed it, and encouraged the often neglected musical talents of his staff. It was sadly, one of the few things he recalled clearly about the man who had passed away in his youth.

One day, he had gotten the courage up to ask the woman about her strange songs, and she admitted she didn't know herself where they truly came from, just that they had been passed down, generation after generation in her family, and that it was a distant and dead language that no one knew the meaning of anymore. But she smiled her warm smile, eyes crinkling at the corners and offered to teach Ioder some of the songs. Soon enough he was joining in with the women and their singing, his young voice ringing out with theirs.

She passed away from old age shortly before his fifteenth birthday, but at the funeral rather than mourn her, they celebrated her and her long life by singing in that strange, beautiful language.

Ioder wasn't entirely sure what brought the random memory up as he set up several small shooting targets in the park late that afternoon, but whatever it was, it had him singing one of the songs again. He had forgotten many of them, but for some reason that one stuck in his recollection more than others.

"lel twa sjah lenti al fo letico...

ol tah lementi al tsah jutenija.."

He was rusty. He knew his skills weren't going to be up to par, not like they were when he was younger and practice had been every other day. Life as a ruler had gotten in the way of that, and he knew his already poor sword skills were going to be of no use to him there. But he had decent talent with a bow and arrow, even for some one as small as he was, and if nothing else he wanted to keep that up. It was at least some form of defense.

With the last of the targets put up, he returned to where he had set the bow and quiver down that he had gotten from the Nostalgia Nook with some of his host club earnings. It was a bit different than what he was used to, but he hoped he could learn it quickly and be able to practice with some ease.

As he picked it up and placed the smooth, curved handle in to his hand while taking up an arrow with the other, he recalled finally why the song had come to mind. She would watch him practice sometimes, sitting with a weaving of some sort in her lap as her calloused hands worked with the materials swiftly.

"Some days, child, I think you have your head in the clouds and are never going to come down. And then I see you here, and think to myself 'my, is that the same young master who putters about with his books and pencils?'. You have such a keen eye, when you're focused."

Ioder let out a quiet chuckle at the memory, notching the arrow and pulling the string taut.

When he was focused, she had said. He was lacking that lately, wasn't he?

"la-tah tiata tjula patie la-tah tiati laia lia la-tah tiata tjula patie la-tah tiati lajo..."

The song still in his head, he took in a deep breath, and let the arrow fly.

(ooc: The song he's singing is actually a Vocaloid song that's originally done by Kagamine Rin and Len that doesn't have any meaning. But it is really pretty to listen to.)

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It is early evening when a figure emerges from the trees behind Ioder. For a time they stay back, simply watching the young emperor practice, admiring the focus of one determined to hone a skill long disused. I should train more often myself, or I may end up a bit rusty, they muse to themselves as they make their way closer.

"You seem to have a slight lack of moving targets."

Ioder had been at it for nearly an hour at that point, with a sweat broken out on his brow and his shoulders starting to ache from the strain of practicing after so long.

He had regained his focus, so well in fact that he didn't even hear Dhaos approach and it wasn't until he spoke that the emperor jumped and yelped, spinning around and very nearly aiming the notched arrow at the prince.

When he saw who it was though, he let out a breath and slumped, lowering the weapon.

"Dhaos! You frightened me!"

Dhaos remains composed, even as the bow is nearly aimed at his chest. He'd spent the day amongst the trees, simply taking the time to enjoy little things, like the way the light shifts through the leaves or the sounds of birds; it's given him a sense of something very near tranquility.

"My apologies. I simply didn't wish to disturb you before I made that observation. You looked quite focused on what your training, my friend." His words are accompanied by a small smile.

Ioder, on the other hand, is still noticeably tense. As good as the masquerade had been, there was still a uncertainty that refused to leave him alone, and it shows. As steady as his hand had been, many of his arrows are still off the mark quite a bit.

Still, he managed to return Dhaos' smile with his own. For whatever reason, being around him always had a calming effect he didn't fully understand, but wasn't going to question either.

"I was, but I suppose I've been at it long enough to take a break..." he admitted with a faint chuckle, rubbing an arm over his brow. Sleeves rolled up, jacket discarded, he was as casual as he dared to be outside of his own home.

"I'm afraid a moving target would only make things more difficult than I'm capable of right now."

Dhaos studies Ioder for a moment. Privately, he thinks that if this were the first time the other man had used a bow since his arrival to Vatheon as he suspects is the case, the number of hits is quite impressive. It also reminds him of just how little he has kept up with his own training...

Decision made, the prince moves about twenties paces before turning back to smile again at the emperor.

"Rest for now. You have earned it. In the meantime, I think I will take advantage of the lull in activity."

And then, he begins a warm up routine that looks almost like a very slow and fluid dance.

Ioder canted his head to the side and blinked a few times, watching Dhaos quietly for a moment. He didn't want to stop, but he knew if he continued he was going to wear himself out, and his shots would be even worse. His shoulders ached from the lack of practice and the strain on his body.

A sigh escaped and he slumped, moving to a tree to drop down heavily and rest his tired body against it.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back for a moment, resting as Dhaos had instructed him to, but eventually he did open them again to watch the other's movements.

He was surprisingly graceful, at least in Ioder's mind. But he realized after a beat that he had always thought that, not just right then. In fact he had been paying attention to Dhaos a lot more lately, hadn't he?

The realization made his face flush red, and instinctively a had came over his mouth, a tiny sound escaping even as he tried to suppress it.

Normally any sort of unusual noise would have caught Dhaos' attention instantly, even something as miniscule as that which Ioder had just made. In that moment however, Dhaos had begun to weave magic into his routine, focusing only upon the flow of his mana in time with his movements as he gradually begins to speed up.

In the dying light, the small particles of mana that drift off of the prince look almost like fireflies.

Slowly, Ioder's hand fell away. Even though the blush remained on his cheeks, something else entirely washed over him. Surprise was certainly a part of it, but awe had a hold of him more than anything.

It was... beautiful, watching those little lights dance about, moving with the fluid motions of the prince. Ioder had seen many amazing things in his short life time, even witnessed the amazing destruction of the Adephagos from a distance, but for some reason in his mind none of that came close to what he was seeing.

The 'dance' continued long enough for night to settle in, lamps lighting up along the park's many pathways. This seemed to break whatever sort of trance the seraph had been in, causing him to slow to a halt. For a few moment he seemed rather surprised at his surroundings. Then he noticed the emperor's gaze and turned to face him with an apologetic smile.

"Forgive me. I seem to have used the last of your light."

"N... no... it's alright. That was--..."

He swallowed hard, hands clasped in his lap, but a bright smile on his slightly red features.

"I enjoyed watching you..."

Dhaos ducked his head a bit to hide his own reddening cheeks behind his hair. Compliments beyond those the clients at Golden Victory occasionally gave him he had yet to get used to. It was... very nice to hear from a friend.

A small smile grew on his face.

"...I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Ioder returned the soft smile happily, standing and slinging his bow over his shoulder.

"I would like to continue... perhaps we can use the yard at my house? There would be far more light than what we have right now."

"...I would like that."

That small smile widened just a little as he moved to stand beside Ioder, silently saying 'lead on.'

It took just a minute to clean up. The targets were portable, and the arrows all retrieved from the targets easily. Once everything was packed, he slung the targets and the quiver on to his back, finding them heavier than when he had gone there. Though his shoulders ached, but he ignored it as he started to lead the way back to his house.

Dhaos carefully matched the shorter man's pace, falling in step beside him. For a few minutes he was content to walk in companionable silence with his friend. About the time they had reached the edge of the park however, the mage had begun humming the lullaby he heard Zelda humming on occasion.

Ioder found himself smiling at the gentle tune, and though he didn't know it it had a sense of familiarity to it. Like something he had maybe heard before in Vatheon somewhere, and simply forgotten.

By the time they got to his house, the sun had finally set on the bubble and the porch light as well as the lights lining the small walkway up were on and glowing brightly. He paused to unlock the door and call out, though no one responded.

"I guess no one is home. Ah, well. That's fine. I suppose it will be easier to focus that way..."

Dhaos noded in agreement.

"I shall take my own rest while you practice. Before I do, would you like some assistance in setting up the targets again?"

"Ah... yes, actually. That would be wonderful."

Ioder motioned for him to follow, going through the kitchen to a double-wide back door. He swung one of the doors open, flipping the switches on the wall to light up the back yard.

Two large wrought iron lamps on either side of a rounded porch lit it and the narrow but long back yard up brightly. The grass was recently cut, and a small but well kept garden of flowers was boxed in at one end, the rest of the yard clear aside from a small metal and wood swinging bench that was close to the garden.

It was a fairly nice place, but it being free courtesy of the city certainly made it easy.

"We can put them up there," Ioder said, pointing to the clear end of the yard, fenced in by a high wooden fence.

"Very well."

He took a few of the targets and quickly set them up in front of the fence. Task complete, he gave Ioder a small smile and then made his way over to the swinging bench to watch.

Dhaos was soon somewhat distracted by how comfortable the bench actually was (not as good as his couch, but an acceptable substitute), and with the way it could swing back and forth. It was something he had never encountered before, and thus a bit of an amusing novelty.

Ioder returned the nod and the smile and went to take a place a good distance from the targets. It wasn't ideal shooting, just using porch lights, but he had been taught by his instructor that a keen eye did not necessarily need good light to find a target.

Unaware of Dhaos' amusement with the swinging bench, Ioder notched and arrow and pulled, taking a breath before letting it fly. While it didn't hit dead center, it did strike the target with more accuracy than he had previously been getting.

Dhaos' attention was immediately redirected toward the target at the sound of the arrow hitting it. It was a good shot. Not dead center, but certainly improved from earlier. The break seemed to have done its job, resting Ioder's muscles and allowing his mind to readjust. One can only focus on one thing for so long, after all.

As time passes and Ioder's shots continued to improve, Dhaos found the day's events catching up to him, and eventually the alien prince just sort of slumped over on the bench and dozed off.

Ioder was about to fire yet another one when he heard the very soft sound of dozing (which is most certainly not like snoring) from where he stood. He stopped, lowering the weapon to look over.

A fond smile crept on to his features and he quietly put the weapon down completely. It didn't take much to sneak back in to the house silently, returning shortly with a warm, fluffy fleece blanket. He moved up close to the bench, minding it so as not to knock it in to motion again, and carefully laid it over Dhaos.

With him taking up most of it, Ioder was left to drop down on to the grass next to it, leaning against one of the support beams with a tired sigh. His shoulders were starting to feel the ache more now, and he knew it would be many more weeks before practice stopped hurting.

He leaned his head back with a sigh, staring up at the darkened bubble above.

Sometimes, he forgot there was no way to see stars, all the way down there under the water.

Dhaos made a soft noise of contentment as the blanket was placed over him, unconsciously appreciating the extra warmth it provided. For a few moments, everything was peaceful.

...And then the mage rolled over in his sleep, and off the bench. For a moment all he could do nothing more than blink blearily upwards, wondering how he'd gotten there.

Ioder had nearly dozed off himself, head back against the support, when the thud made him jerk and jump right back to waking. He stared at Dhaos for a few seconds before a tiny laugh escaped, and a hand slapped over his mouth to try and stop the rest from coming out.

Sorry, Dhaos.

Dhaos tilted his head back to look at the source of the slight laughter. Oh. Hello Ioder. It took a moment more of half-asleep staring before the prince's brain finally managed to piece the situation together in a coherent manner.

"...How long was I asleep?"

"Not very long... barely an hour..."

Even as he answers, it's clear he can't get the laughter out of his voice. His eyes are lit up, hand still hiding his mouth. There's no sound, but he's obviously amused.

He stared at Ioder for a moment before returning his gaze skyward.

"...I suppose I must be more tired than I thought."

Nope, still not all that awake.

That earned a cant of the head, hand lowering and smile flickering away, though the amusement in his eyes stayed.

"Tired?"

He was surprised to hear that from Dhaos, not sure what could have left him tired enough to sleep on a swinging bench.

If Dhaos gets tired, a swinging bench is hardly the strangest place he's willing to flop down and take a nap.

"I haven't been sleeping well recently is all."

He yawned, then struggled with the blanket and his cloak a moment before getting up.

"...Perhaps I should depart for home and sleep."

Any mirth in his eyes left at that, and he stood after Dhaos with a worried frown tugging on his lips.

"That's a bit of a walk, if you're tired enough to fall asleep out here. ... why don't you stay here tonight?"

No need to walk or muster up the necessary level of concentration to teleport... That was an idea Dhaos liked.

"If you don't think I would be imposing..."

"I don't think so at all! It's not as if you haven't stayed here before."

There was a tiny part of Ioder that could feel the urge to get flustered at the thought of it, but he pushed it down. He was doing this for a friend, nothing more.

Right?

Oblivious to Ioder's tiny internal crisis, Dhaos yawned.

"Shall we go in then?" he asked, rubbing one of his eyes.

Some how, that actually wound up helping. Seeing Dhaos yawn, utterly unaware of what was going on in his head just made Ioder smile tiredly.

"Yes."

He picked up the bow and quiver, not bothering with the targets for now. He could get to them later.

Still clutching the blanket, Dhaos followed Ioder inside, trailing a little behind as he wasn't quite sure where he would be asked to sleep. He was fine with anywhere really, but a bed would be rather nice.

Their couch wasn't really fit for sleeping on except in maybe short naps. Yuri did sometimes, but often woke up complaining of a crick in his neck from it.

The thought of sharing a bed again, while just a tiny bit flustering, was actually not a terrible idea in Ioder's mind. So he simply walked quietly ahead of Dhaos back to the bedroom, figuring that was indication enough.

By the time they reached Ioder's bedroom, Dhaos was tired enough not to ask questions. Instead, he simply removed his boots and cloak, then crawled under the covers, murmured a faint "Goodnight," and fell fast asleep.

Ioder watched him, curious as to what had him tired enough to do that. He wasn't going to question it, especially since Dhaos was already asleep. He simply let out an amused sigh and went to change in to night clothes, eventually slipping under the covers next to Dhaos quietly.

"Goodnight..."

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Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things

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