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Lightbringer
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Despite his princely training and lessons, Zephen couldn't help but let out a quiet whimper as Hollis continued to egg him on. The way Magnus laughed made him think the other boy was probably just teasing, but Hollis sounded so serious he just wasn't quite sure what to think. If only he had one of his servants here. His father and mother always had a taste tester to make sure their food wasn't poisoned. Zephen needed to have one to make sure he wouldn't become a boy lover if he ate the soup. Unfortunately, his parents had already told him he was on his own here. That meant no servants. And that also meant no taste tester. As the minutes ticked by, he couldn't stand it anymore and needed to swallow. After gulping down the soup in his mouth, he put the spoon back in the half finished soup bowl, too unsure to feel safe enough to continue eating. . As Hollis continued his little charade, Zephen huffed at him, a frown on his lips. He was done getting pushed around like a nobody. He was done playing the boy's game. He wouldn't let this go on for any longer. "If anyone needs guidance it's you." He shot back, sitting pencil straight as he caught Hollis's eyes with a piercing look. "Your so lost and confused it's almost sad. You have to put others down to feel good about yourself. It's pitiful, really. I also happen to be generous, so if you ever get tired of the little box you've put yourself in, I will be happy to help you fix your ways. And if there's a reason you feel so insecure, I've been known to be able to do anything, so I'm sure I could help you out with that as well." Zephen said, his tone holding a slight melodic lilt to it as a charming smile played on his face. To any outsider it would've seemed as though Zephen was being kind and caring, but the proud look in his eyes suggested something eles. . Now feeling confident because of his own words, Zephen took another bite of soup, silently emphasizing that he wasn't scared of Hollis. It held the message that he wouldn't let the other boy walk over him while also showing his satisfaction at supposedly taking control of the situation. The prince then grabbed his bread, diping it into his soup with a proud air to his actions, his princely attitude shining through. He stirred the bread around for a second before bringing it to his lips and chewing. The look in his eyes practically dared Hollis to try and come up with a comeback. He was so confident he had won he didn't think anyone would be capable of coming up with a good retort. A downfall to his personality, no doubt, since he wasn't used to getting talked back to. Normally his word was law, so he wasn't expecting that anyone could truly fight him on subjects he was sure on. |
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Darkseeker
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Hollis was mid-thought, idly inspecting his nails and pondering what shade might best complement his sweater—maybe emerald or a bold plum—when Zephen’s sharp tone snapped him out of his reverie. His lips parted slightly, caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief, as the boy across from him worked himself into a fervor over the soup, Hollis’s casual remarks, and, apparently, Hollis’s entire existence. The sheer audacity of it all was almost impressive. Almost. Hollis toyed with the frayed edge of his sweater, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he tilted his head, an expression of mock confusion playing across his face. He looked like a particularly elegant puppy trying to comprehend its owner’s strange antics. The escalation had been so sudden, so utterly unprovoked, that for a moment, Hollis wondered if Zephen was auditioning for a drama class. “*I* need guidance?” Hollis echoed, his voice laced with incredulous laughter. He leaned forward slightly, as though he needed to make sure he’d heard correctly. “Because I like men? Oh, sweetie, no. I’m afraid *I’m* not the one living in a box.” He crossed his legs with deliberate flair, one eyebrow arched high as he met Zephen’s gaze head-on. “I like to think I’m very open-minded about things. And don’t act like you know me—you don’t. Has it ever crossed your mind that I might actually be a *good* person, beyond my fashion choices and the people I want to date? Did you know that last year, I spent all my free evenings organizing protests for the environment? Hmm? That my entire friend group and I started a debate club to discuss the merits of different forms of government? Or are those inconvenient details for the story you’ve written about me?” He leaned back, resting a hand on Magnus’s shoulder for emphasis. “I don’t know where you’re from, but here, we don’t believe in a monarchy. Maybe it’s time to question your own little castle.” With that, Hollis stood, his movements deliberate and graceful, as though he were exiting a stage after delivering a cutting monologue. He smoothed his sweater, tossed his dark curls with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly how good he looked, and shot Magnus a pointed glance. “I’m going to the dessert cart. Have fun getting to know each other better. Good luck, Mag,” he said with a dazzlingly sarcastic smile before sashaying away. The exposed sliver of his torso, entirely intentional, caught the light as he moved with all the confidence of someone who knew the world would watch him leave. Within moments, he was enveloped by a group of third years, their excited chatter rising as they eagerly inquired about upcoming parties. Hollis, naturally, basked in the attention, already halfway through charming them with his trademark blend of wit and theatricality in hopes of gaining even more friends to take places. |
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Lightbringer
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Hollis's puppy like expression only annoyed Zephen. But that was mostly because he was upset with himself that he had forgotten his decision to treat the other boy like a kid. Hollis's reaction only solidified the fact that the prince had made a mistake. Still... as Hollis touched on the things he had done last year, Zephen paused. That... Was that true? He had... protested for the environment? He tried to protect all the innocent animals out there? For a moment, Zephen actually felt... bad. And it was weird, because the prince had never once regretted his words or actions before. He had never once questioned himself on if he was really right or not. But then the moment was ruined as Hollis spoke about the things he believed in. Zephen glared at the other boy, his earlier feelings forgotten in his anger. "Tsk. You really are set in your ways. Treason is the way you talk and act." The prince growled as Hollis went off to go get some desert. . Too upset to talk with Magnus, Zephen quickly stood up, his body tense with frustration. He abandoned the rest of his soup in favor of stalking off to his room, gloom and doom radiating from his whole existence. Instead of weaving through the crowd like he had done previously, he just kept walking straight, expecting them to move. The look on his face said he wasn't afraid to trample anyone who got in his way, so for the most part, people reluctantly moved out of the way for the prince. The ones who didn't, well, they got plowed through. When he got to his room, he expected to find a bathroom with a bathtub waiting for him. But he quickly realized the room didn't have a bathroom. Tears pricking his eyes, the prince started taking his anger out on his luggage. He threw his backpack across the room and also knocked over a few of his suitcases. He then decided it was a good idea to *kick* one of his suitcases. Of course, by doing that, he just ended up hurting hurting his toes. . Absolutely miserable, Zephen plopped onto his bed and curled up like a little puppy as he just cried. Normally he would never be caught dead crying, but, as it turns out, sometimes tears are necessary to get your emotions out. The prince hadn't even gotten his sheets on the bed yet, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He had tried to ignore it, but between the very annoying Hollis, moving out of his home to go stay in a whole different country and the death threat on his sister, Zephen felt utterly alone and overwhelmed. He just wanted things to go back to normal. And yet... somewhere deep down, he found he couldn't exactly hate Hollis. Although he didn't realize it, Hollis actually intrigued him. Perhaps that's why, if he let his mind wander for long enough, Hollis's midsection would always pop up in his mind. |
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Darkseeker
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Hollis flounced into his dorm room with a sense of triumph, the satisfaction of a day well-dramatized etched across his face. It was nearly curfew, and the corridors of Sannhet were humming with the last-minute bustle of students settling in. He was delighted to find Isak perched on his bed, as usual, flipping through a book but clearly ready to dissect the day. Magnus might have lost a roommate, but Hollis had gained Isak, and the dynamic was perfect. They immediately launched into a spirited conversation, united in their disdain for the influx of clueless freshmen. Hollis, always one for flair, waved his hands dramatically as he bemoaned the sobbing parents clogging the entryway, the blasphemy against the sacred Sunday soup, and, most egregiously, the sheer inability of the newcomers to navigate hallways. “They move like cows on a country road,” Hollis lamented, flopping onto his bed as though the very memory of it drained him. Isak listened with his usual quiet amusement, throwing in a perfectly timed biting remark every so often, which only fueled Hollis’s theatrical indignation. Their conversation was punctuated by fits of laughter, but the mood sobered when the prefects strode past their room, checking for rule-breakers. The pair froze, their silence a mix of exaggerated terror and genuine caution, until the footsteps faded. The moment they were clear, Hollis sprang into action. “I can’t let Zephen forget who he’s dealing with,” he declared, digging through his bag with the fervor of someone unearthing buried treasure. "I am nothing short of fabulous." He pulled out his pièce de résistance: a scandalous pajama ensemble that he had been saving for just such an occasion. The cut-off flannel pajama pants ended mid-thigh, showing off his toned legs, while the cropped Harvard sweatshirt—an impulse buy from a trip to America—barely grazed the bottom of his pecs. Hollis grinned, knowing full well the effect it would have. “Magnus won’t care,” Hollis said, mostly to himself as he slipped into the outfit. “But that snobby little Zephen? He’s going to *hate* this.” Moments later, Hollis and Isak were sneaking down the hallway, their arms laden with their traditional gifts: snacks, gossip, and the sheer force of their personalities. They reached Magnus’s room and burst in without ceremony, throwing themselves onto the bed beside the blond boy. Magnus looked up, startled but not surprised, and immediately hissed, “Shh! Do you want to get caught on the first night back?” Hollis waved him off with a dismissive gesture, sprawling across the bed like he owned it. “Relax, Mag. We’re pros at this by now.” Isak settled into a corner with an easy smirk, already unpacking the snacks, while Hollis stretched dramatically, making sure his outfit was on full display. “Besides,” Hollis said, shooting a mischievous glance at Magnus, “if the prefects show up, I’ll just charm them. Works every time.” Magnus rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide his grin as the three of them settled into their usual camaraderie, the room quickly filling with laughter, whispers, and the comfort of familiarity. |
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Lightbringer
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The minutes ticked by as the prince slowly ran out of tears. Sometime after that he was faintly aware of his roommate quietly coming in, but he payed the other boy no mind. Instead he just stared into space, his eyes slightly red and puffy. It had been years since he had truly cried. And honestly, it felt good? But it also left him drained. He just wanted to sleep, yet he found himself unable to because of the unfamiliar surroundings. He had never once slept somewhere besides his expensive bed which sat in the corner of his room. But now he was somewhere completely different, laying on a cheap mattress with another boy in the room. How was he expected to sleep like this? How was he ever going to get a good night's rest here? . Despite all of his complaints, the prince eventually started to drift off. But just as he was about to fall asleep fully, the door flew open, causing Zephen to jolt awake into a sitting position. His eyes widened in slight panic as he quickly looked over to see what was going on. As his gaze landed on Hollis and a new boy, he could barely keeping himself from groaning. And as his eyes got more adjusted, he realized what Hollis was wearing. The sight caused him to choke on his own spit, his face heating up just slightly. He had thought Hollis couldn't get any worse, but here they were! Apparently the boy would always find a way to act crazier. . As his coughing fit came to an end, the prince went over to the backpack that he still hadn't picked up from when he had thrown it. Eyes watery because of how much he had choked, Zephen sat down and pulled out his water bottle from his bag. Taking a drink helped soothe his sore throat and before he knew it, he was back to normal again. Just knowing Hollis would comment, Zephen sent him a glare. "Don't. Just don't. I know you want to say it, but don't. I won't comment on your... outfit choice and in return you'll just leave me alone, okay?" He huffed, before looking away again, not wanting the others to find out he had been crying. Zephen then got up and went back to his bed with his backpack in hand. He layed it on the floor beside his bed before picking up the untouched beer can. "Also, take this back." As he tossed the can to Hollis he muttered quietly under his breath, "I can't believe you actually drink that stuff. Are you sure you're old enough?" |
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Darkseeker
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Hollis had been moments away from unleashing another cutting remark when he caught a glimpse of Zephen's face. Flushed cheeks, red-rimmed eyes—there was no mistaking it. Hollis froze, his words caught in his throat. There were only two things that got people looking like that, and he was pretty certain the snobby boy across the room hadn’t been smoking weed. He’d been crying. The sharp scowl that had settled on Hollis’s face softened immediately. His dramatic pose deflated as he curled up on the bed, instinctively pulling his knees toward his chest, his cropped sweatshirt now covering more than it had all evening. His stomach flipped uncomfortably at the sight. Normally, when one of his friends cried, Hollis would give them space, waiting until they were ready to talk. But this was different. Zephen looked utterly lost, and for once, Hollis wasn’t sure what to do. Forelsket was supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where everyone could feel safe, no matter who they were. Seeing someone so clearly out of place—especially someone who’d gotten under his skin—sent an unexpected pang of guilt through him. Magnus and Isak had fallen silent, their usual playful chatter gone. Hollis glanced at them, chewing on his bottom lip. Then, in a rare moment of vulnerability, he tilted his head toward Magnus and made a subtle face. Magnus, bless him, caught on immediately and turned back to Isak, seamlessly picking up their earlier conversation. The shift in attention gave Hollis just enough courage to act. He ignored Magnus’s muttered comment about the beer he shoved into his hands and shifted to the end of the bed, twisting his fingers nervously. This wasn’t something he was used to—apologizing, much less to someone he barely liked. “I’m sorry,” Hollis mumbled, his voice quieter than usual. He didn’t look up, keeping his gaze fixed on his hands. “That we didn’t ask you if you were comfortable drinking. I guess I should’ve been more understanding about that. I don’t know what the laws are where you’re from. I can only tell you’re not from here because of your accent. I swear, I don’t know anything about you.” Hollis’s shoulders tensed, and his voice cracked slightly as he pushed on. “I got mad when you acted like you knew everything about me, and then I went and did the same thing to you.” He paused, his hands gripping the edge of the blanket tightly. “Me and Mag, we’ll leave you alone. And I won’t... I won’t talk about my preferences around you.” He scooted back to the small group on the bed, his movements stiff and deliberate, as though the apology had drained something vital from him. He forced a smile, rejoining the conversation with Magnus and Isak, but the feeling of Zephen’s gaze lingering on his neck was impossible to ignore. For once, Hollis didn’t bask in the attention. Instead, he focused on the chatter, his usual energy subdued. The guilt gnawed at him, but so did something else—an uneasy hope that maybe, just maybe, he’d said the right thing. |
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Lightbringer
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Zephen winced as the room fell into awkward silence. Hah, they had seen his face, hadn't they? He knew he shouldn't have glared at Hollis, but it had been instinctual. And now the same instincts he thought would never be wrong had been the thing that revealed his dark secret - he wasn't as brave as he pretended to he. He was scared and overwhelmed. That's why he had cried. Taking a deep breath, the prince prepared to ignore the other boys at all costs as he finally started getting his bed ready for the night. He unzipped one of his other suitcases and grabbed his bedding. He let out a relieved sigh when their chatting started up again. Good. They would just ignore him like he was hoping they would. Afterall, why would they care how he was feeling, anyway? . Zephen completely froze as he heard the Hollis's quiet apology. The prince didn't even dare to breath as he listened to all that the other boy had to say. He couldn't believe his ears. He couldn't believe that the same boy who had given him hell was actually apologizing. Wasn't that against his moral code or something? But despite that thought, Zephen knew that Hollis was being genuine. Even though he couldn't see the other boy's face, the tone he used was proof to the prince that Hollis was truly sorry. And for the first time ever, the apology sent warmth through Zephen. People had always apologized to him out of fear. But no one had apologized because they... wanted to. . Without his permission, a few tears started to fall down his face. The prince's body shook as he had trouble keeping himself together. What was wrong with him, falling apart because of a stupid apology? Zephen sniffled, the sound louder than he had intended as he sank to his knees and hid his face against the mattress. "I... I'm sorry too." Zephen whispered, although he knew his words weren't nearly loud enough for anyone except himself to hear. The words were foreign on his lips, and the way they awkwardly tumbled out of his mouth suggested he very rarely had to apologize. In fact, this was the first time he had said the phrase and actually meant it. Dang, this day had been more unpredictable than one of his lessons in politics. . Taking a deep breath, Zephen finally managed to calm himself down. Once he was sure all tears had been wiped away, the prince slowly got up and sat on his bed. His eyes subconsciously found their way to the hunched over Hollis. Zephen opened his mouth to speak multiple times, but everytime the words would die on his lips. He was at a loss when he realized he didn't really know how to apologize. And Hollis's apology and taken him by surprise so he hadn't been able to take notes like he usually would when learning something knew. So Zephen ended up just kinda... staring at Hollis. He had only been here at Forelsket for a day and he already felt as though he somehow he had been... changed. Like, because of Hollis's apology, Zephen felt more open to everything the boy has to offer, although he's still very wary of Hollis's "wild ways". But it showed the prince that the boy across the room was still a person too. And that revelation changed basically everything. . As a yawn torn itself from Zephen's mouth, he reluctantly pulled his eyes away in favor of finally getting his bed ready. He put his silky sheets on before decorating the bed with his various lush pillows and silk ladened comforter. Once he was finished dressing up his bed, it was clear to anyone how fancy Zephen's things truly were. But even as the prince layed down, he knew these expensive things wouldn't be able to soothe his frayed emotions. He was just so done with everything he was starting to feel numb. Still, everytime he thought of the boy's apology, a tiny part of him would smile at the thought. |
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Darkseeker
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The morning sunlight filtered through the dorm room blinds in soft, golden streaks, landing squarely on Hollis's face. He groaned dramatically, throwing an arm over his eyes like he was in the middle of a Shakespearean tragedy. The chill in the air only added to his reluctance to leave the comfort of his nest of blankets. He realised blearily that he'd fallen asleep in Magnus's dorm. "Magnus," he mumbled, his voice muffled by a pillow, "tell the sun to go away. It’s being *rude*." Magnus, already up and halfway dressed, rolled his eyes. "The sun doesn’t take requests, Hollis. Get up. Breakfast ends in thirty minutes." Hollis sighed loudly, a sound that could rival a dying whale, and peeked out from under his arm. "Fine," he grumbled. "But if I don’t look fabulous today, it’s your fault." He rolled out of bed with all the grace of a newborn deer, stumbling to back to his room to get dressed. He studied his wardrobe for a moment. It was the last day of style before the dreaded uniforms. After a moment of deliberation—and a dramatic gasp at how disorganized it was—he pulled out a pair of fitted jeans and an oversized sweater in a soft lavender hue. The sweater slid off one shoulder, exposing his collarbone, and Hollis nodded approvingly at his reflection. "Magnus," he called out to the boy who'd arrived a few moments before, striking a pose, "do I look approachable or like I just stepped out of an indie film?" Magnus glanced over, toothbrush in hand. "You look like you raided the pastel section of a thrift store." "Perfect," Hollis said, ignoring the jab and pulling on his favorite silver earrings, which would also be banned come tomorrow morning. By the time he sauntered into the dining hall, it was buzzing with the usual morning chaos. Students milled around, clutching cups of coffee and plates piled high with breakfast. Hollis made a beeline for the Sannhet table, plopping down with a flourish next to Magnus, who was already halfway through his oatmeal. "Good morning, loves," Hollis announced, dramatically draping himself over the table. "How are we all surviving this cruel and unjust hour?" Magnus didn’t even look up. "It’s 9 a.m., Hollis." "Exactly." As he reached for a piece of toast, his eyes landed on Zephen sitting at the far end of the table, looking equally bleary-eyed. Hollis hesitated for half a second before flashing a small, genuine smile and lifting his tea mug in a silent toast. It was a peace offering of sorts, subtle and nonchalant, but it was there. Magnus raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, instead nudging Hollis with his elbow. "Are you actually eating breakfast today or just here to socialize?" "Both," Hollis replied breezily, taking a dainty bite of his toast. "I’m a multitasker, darling." The conversation around the table picked up, and Hollis joined in with his usual flair, but he couldn’t help sneaking glances at Zephen, wondering if the boy had noticed the small gesture. Hollis might not have been a morning person, but even he could admit that some mornings weren’t entirely terrible. Not when you were at Forelsket. |
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Fall 
Night 
Heavy Rain Moon: 
