21 Days of Valdemar!
Jul. 17th, 2015 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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21_daysWelcome to 21 Days of Valdemar!
Put on your party hats - it’s time for the Dead Vanyel Memorial Party! Vanyel is OFFICIALLY the Woobiest of the Woobies, and we celebrate in his honour!
WE'RE DONE.
No More Fills posted here! Post to AO3 or FF.Net and post the link here!
Discussion Post | Mod Call Post | Resources Post
Schedule
Day 1 -Aug. 9 - Prompts! You will have seven days to put as many prompts as you'd like on this post. And if you start writing them early, well that's just good planning!
Day 8 - Aug. 16 - Prompting ends, posting begins! You have 14 days to write, draw, and potentially diorama as many prompts as you can.
Day 19 - Aug. 27 - This is the cut-off day for prompters to reply to any questions about their prompt. Unanswered questions are considered enthusiastic agreement.
Day 21 - Aug. 29 - Last day of posting! All fills must be posted by 11:59 PM North American Mountain Time.
Day 22 - Aug. 30 - Party time! You now have the option of going unanon and reposting everything you've done to AO3 under our fancy AO3 Collection. Or unanoning in whatever manner you please.
(Click on the dates for countdowns; the fest is following MDT/Mountain Time)
For the purposes of this fest, the prompts themselves are warnings. If you have issues with this policy, we recommend either not participating or using Dreamwidth blocker.
Joining the 21_days community is optional for prompters, fillers, and all interested parties; we have some extra content for comm members, but this prompt/fill post, the discussion post, and the mod call post are open for everyone.
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For Prompters and Readers
- Subject lines should include the series, characters and/or pairing you want. Feel free to be as descriptive as you'd like. Warnings aren't required, but they also aren't banned.
- You don't have to write or draw. It's anon, there's no IP-tracking, and we aren't going to stalk you.
- Do not comment on other people's prompts to try and change pairings or characters. Post your own version with the characters you want instead.
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- No claiming prompts, please, as multiple fills are welcome!
- Minimum wordcount per fill is 100 words.
- All content is allowed and all warnings are optional, but if you want to write or draw extreme kinks** for a prompt that doesn’t specifically request them, you have ask the prompter first.
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- RPF of underage people is not allowed. We're not even sure if it's possible for Valdemar fic, but whatever. It's not allowed.
** "extreme kinks" for the purposes of this exchange include but are not necessarily limited to: extreme underage, major character death, scat/watersports/emetophilia, extreme gore, and bestiality. Please use reasonable discretion, and ask a mod if you have any questions!
For Everyone
This is a Choose Not to Warn fest. At no point will any comment be deleted for failure to warn of its content in the subject lines. They will be deleted for rampaging dickery and failure to follow the rules.
Unanon comments will be deleted.
Attempts at policing other people's fun will be deleted.
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Links to off-meme posts posted prior to end of the 21st day will be deleted.
Concerns are to be directed to the MOD CALL post. If posted here, they will be deleted.
Fills that have spectacularly failed to fulfill the prompt/been posted to the wrong spot will be screened. You can request a copy of your work at the MOD CALL post.
The rules may change without warning in response to unforeseen circumstances, like us thinking of better ones.
FILL: Equilibrium - 6/9
Date: 2015-08-29 03:44 am (UTC)He scrambled abruptly into a sitting position, trying to say something, but only managing a croak. Two or three of the Companions clustered around him lifted their heads, looking at him with unreadable expressions, before going back to ignoring him. The others (at least five of six in total) just didn't acknowledge him at all.
"Gala?" Vanyel looked around for Tylendel's Companion, but couldn't see her amongst the group. He remembered, now—stumbling out into the gardens in the dark, frantically trying to dodge people as he fought to keep his feet moving even though his heart was hammering and it felt like the world was crashing down around him.
He'd found himself in the Companion's Field again. He didn't know why. Gala was Tylendel's Companion, after all; surely she'd take her Chosen's side—be angry at Vanyel for hurting him.
But she had found him. She guided him somewhere quiet and curled around him as he shivered and shook, until finally something loosened in him enough for him to cry and cry. The forest was dark and quiet, and there was nobody there save the Companions.
Nobody for him to hurt or disappoint.
But now what?
He had a fleeting thought that he'd run away—but again, just like all the times before, he knew he had nowhere to go, nowhere to make a living.
—that, and the thought of being away from Tylendel made his heart ache with a splitting, stabbing agony, enough to send his face into his knees as he gasped with pain. He felt a soft nose nuzzling his hair, soothing, and he gritted his teeth to try to steady himself.
No—he had to go back. He had to beg for Tylendel's forgiveness. It didn't matter what happened with Staven; it didn't matter how Vanyel felt. He had to be with Tylendel. He couldn't imagine anything else.
He couldn't live without him.
He didn't move right away—didn't know how much time passed while he shivered and trembled and felt the breeze on his stinging cheeks. Finally, he hauled himself to his feet, shakily bracing a hand on the closest Companion. She stood as well, helping to balance him.
"Thanks," he murmured, still looking down, and took his first step, though he barely trusted his legs to hold him.
None of the Companions said anything, but then, he could hardly expect that they would.
Vanyel knew before he opened the door that Tylendel was inside. His hand trembled on the doorknob, fingers white and clenched.
What if he's still angry? Vanyel thought helplessly. What if—what if he doesn't want to see me again?
The thought weighed heavily on his mind, breath catching, chest tight. He hadn't considered that. He knew without a doubt that he couldn't imagine a world without Tylendel in it, but he had no way of knowing if the trainee felt the same way.
He almost turned away. If that were the case… he didn't want to face him yet. He didn't want to see him, to learn that sort of terrible truth—
The door opened abruptly under his hand, swinging inwards, and Vanyel felt himself gasp, arm still outstretched, fingers curling helplessly in the empty air. He looked up, lips trying to form words, then fell helplessly silent, the sound strangling in his throat.
Tylendel was a wreck. His usually tousled curls were an utterly mad crown atop his pale face like a portrait of a demented angel. Dark smudges stood out starkly under his eyes, leaving them wild and shadowed. His mouth was pressed into a tight, thin line, and his expression—
Vanyel didn't have a chance to catch much of it. Before Vanyel could understand what was happening, Tylendel had bowed his head jerkily, dropping down onto his knees in front of him, clutching his shaking hands to his own chest, twisting roughly in his shirt and tugging as if he'd rip his own heart if only he could reach.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Vanyel—please, please forgive me…!"
Vanyel drew in a sharp breath. He felt Tylendel's anguish pouring off him like waves—the sensation left him shaking and breathless. He was immobile, paralysed and trembling under the onslaught of the other boy's despair.
He really feels—
"I shouldn't have gotten angry. Gods, Vanyel, I thought I'd—I thought I'd really hurt you. I did hurt you. I'm so sorry. I—I didn't mean it. You—you have to believe me! You're everything to me, you're the world to me, I… I need you. I need you, I'm so sorry, please—"
Tylendel's voice cracked; confronted with Vanyel's frozen silence, he seemed to break even more. His shoulders slumped forward, body crumpling like a broken doll, forehead pressed to the ground.
"If you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore, I—t-th… that's… I u-understand," Tylendel said.
(I'll die, was what Vanyel realized he meant.)
"—but please," he managed to choke out. "Just… if there's anything I can do to undo it, to take it back… Vanyel—"
Finally shaking himself from his paralysis, Vanyel reached out with both hands, placing them gently and carefully on Tylendel's head.
Tylendel let out a sob.
"… oh, ashke," Vanyel breathed out, slowly sinking down onto his own knees. "Oh, no, ashke. 'Lendel… I'm the one that should be asking your forgiveness." He cupped Tylendel's cheek in one hand, coaxing him to look up, tilting his face towards him. "I—I love you And nothing in the entire world can ever change that."
Tylendel stared at him, anguish and hope warring in his expression. Vanyel couldn't tell which one was causing him more pain.
"What—Van, no, I—I hurt you—"
"And I hurt you," Vanyel said firmly, lifting his other hand to Tylendel's face as well, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on him. "And I doubted you. And I never realized how much you were hurting. I didn't realize…" he trailed off, too choked to continue.
I never realized how fragile you are. I put everything on you and expected you to hold us both up. I made you feel like you had to be strong for the both of us and never even considered that you might feel like you needed me too.
Tears were escaping the corners of Tylendel's eyes. Vanyel wiped them away hesitantly with both thumbs, staring at him, trying to will Tylendel to believe him.
"I didn't know what you needed," Vanyel managed to continue again, helplessly. "I didn't know how to talk about anything with you. I didn't know how to protect you. Maybe I still don't. But—oh, 'Lendel… I forgive you. Of course I forgive you. Can you forgive me?"
Tylendel choked, trembling and trying to turn his face away. "I just—I just got so angry. I couldn't think, or see… all I knew was that it was Staven, you were saying those things about him, and I had to support him, I couldn't—"
"I know," Vanyel answered gently, and for the first time really felt as calm as he sounded. "You need him. And you two have been through a lot together. I think… I think there's a lot going on, but I understand it, you know. I never meant to try to come between you. I never meant to hurt you. I—" he swallowed hard. "I was jealous. I was afraid. But I—I trust you," he felt tears welling in his own eyes, despite himself. "I love you. And I'm sorry."
Carefully, he let his arms slide down Tylendel's neck to his shoulders, arms slowly wrapping around Tylendel's neck. He wrapped them around the taller boy, and Tylendel sank against him gratefully, pressing his face into Vanyel's shoulder as he began to cry again, noisy and inelegant.
"I never want to hurt you… I love you, ashke. I love you like I've never loved anybody else—" Tylendel sobbed. "I'd cut out my own tongue before I let it happen again, please, believe me…!"
Vanyel tsked gently, drawing Tylendel more firmly into his arms, bracing him against his chest. "Don't be ridiculous," he murmured. "I'd hate that. I'm very fond of your tongue, I'll have you know."
That earned him a weak chuckle. Tylendel's shoulders slowly began to relax; his breathing evened out, and he rested against him, trembling as Vanyel stroked his curls, his touch slow and gentle. Vanyel pressed his lips to the top of Tylendel's head and focused on remaining calm, remaining steady.
I want to be even half of what you've been for me, he thought. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that maybe you needed something like that, too.
Then, eventually—
"Do you think you can get up?" Vanyel murmured. "I spent the night on the ground, and all the pleasant company in the world can't make up for how much every part of me is aching right now. I feel like I've taken a beating."
Tylendel sniffed, drawing back and sitting up. His expression was much better, Vanyel thought with relief—although still pale, his eyes were clear, having regained some of the dancing light that Vanyel loved so dearly. "Gods, ashke, I didn't—I didn't get any sleep at all. Gala told me where you were so I didn't go crashing around the entire Palace, but she told me not to come after you…" His expression darkened a little.
No, don't—"Gala was just looking after us," Vanyel said firmly. "We needed a bit of time to settle our heads. It's alright, now. We're together. It's going to be alright. I—" he hesitated, brushing his fingertips along Tylendel's cheek. "I love you. I don't ever want to feel that way again."
Tylendel gazed back at him, captivated, and it was as though Vanyel could see his lover's very soul, exposed and aching and beautiful. He finally felt, finally understood. 'Lendel's devotion, 'Lendel's love—
This was something to be protected at all costs. But he didn't have to be afraid.
"Now," he said firmly. "Bed? Please?"
Tylendel nodded, and together the two of them rose, moving slowly, hand-in-hand, into the bedroom. Vanyel sank down first, kicking off muddy shoes, reaching up to draw Tylendel down on top of him.
"To sleep?" he murmured, taking in Tylendel's trembling lashes, the slight droop of his lids.
"Mm," Tylendel murmured back, curling up around Vanyel, tucking their heads together on one pillow, as if being more than a foot apart was more than he could bear.
Vanyel appreciated it. He felt the same.
Then he felt Tylendel's mouth near his ear and heard a soft whisper as Tylendel's hand slid up under his shirt. "… eventually?" he murmured.
Vanyel's breath caught. He carefully tilted Tylendel's chin up, gaze searching his face. Then, after a long moment, he nodded, sinking back against the bed.
"Eventually…"
They made love slowly and carefully, like the other were made of spun glass. Tylendel spent ages mapping out Vanyel's skin—kissing down every inch of his neck, fingers tracing out the curves of his shoulder and collarbone, tongue memorizing the curve of his jaw.
Vanyel tilted his head back and arched up off the bed, his own fingers burying in Tylendel's hair, stroking soothingly and murmuring his name over and over again until Tylendel was shaking, breath catching on wet, trembling sobs.
They kissed until their lips were swollen, tongues slick, mouths reddened. Vanyel made his way down Tylendel's jaw, leaving a series of faint red marks that drew forth a shuddering cry with every bite and caress.
Tylendel was exhausted, drained to his core, but seemed to draw some sort of energy out of Vanyel's attentions. Vanyel's lips soothed his tremors; Vanyel's hands stroked him until he was warm and flushed, unnatural pallor drained away.
"Louder," Vanyel murmured as Tylendel breathed out his name, as Vanyel's fingers wrapped slowly around his cock, thumb rubbing over the head. "Ashke, I love you. I love you… Louder…"
"Vanyel—!"
As Vanyel stroked his lover to climax, he listened to his cries; and he listened to the soft whisper of something, the awareness of someone at the door, listening.
"Louder," murmured Vanyel, and kissed Tylendel's forehead as he came.
Re: FILL: Equilibrium - 6/9
Date: 2015-08-29 04:43 am (UTC)The end scene was super hot, especially with Staven apparently listening at the door? Great reversal from Vanyel listening to Tylendel call his brother's name.
Re: FILL: Equilibrium - 6/9
Date: 2015-08-29 08:08 pm (UTC)This probably isn't the first time that Vanyel has ended up hiding out with horses, let's be honest.
I'm glad you liked the reversal!! I also felt a little bad about writing, like, 15K for this "let's have a threesome" prompt without getting to any actual sex yet so I wanted to toss in at least a little.
Thank you for the comment!
Re: FILL: Equilibrium - 6/9
Date: 2015-08-29 06:58 pm (UTC)Re: FILL: Equilibrium - 6/9
Date: 2015-08-29 08:10 pm (UTC)I'm so very glad!! Vanyel's my favourite hot mess of feelings, especially baby!Vanyel, so I'm thrilled that I'm getting that right. ♥