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Language:
English
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Published:
2024-09-02
Updated:
2024-09-13
Words:
1,021
Chapters:
11/30
Comments:
20
Kudos:
43
Bookmarks:
2
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990

September 2024 Azris Drabble Challenge

Summary:

Chapter 1: Couch - Blame it on SJM because I'm not the one who introduced the Multiverse to Prythian.
Chapter 2: Accident - No mistake should be met with the cruelty these younglings face (CW: implied child abuse)
Chapter 3: Clock - The shadows would stop time itself to care for their Singer
Chapter 4: Lunch - The struggle poor Azriel goes through for a simple midday meal with his mate
Chapter 5: Soup - Seasonal courts have weird food customs
Chapter 6: Leaf - Let slip the dogs of Autumn
Chapter 7: Juice - In which Cassian is not a registered dietician
Chapter 8: Camera - Eris captures a stunning view
Chapter 9: Sleepwalking - Helion is a busy body
Chapter 10: Rest - Helion remains a busy body

Notes:

This chapter is ridiculous. But blame it on SJM because I'm not the one who introduced the Multiverse to Prythian.

Chapter 1: Couch

Chapter Text

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“What?”

“You’re glaring.”

“I have no eyes!”

“And whose fault is that?”

“Yours.”

“You were the one who insisted upon proving that there are multiple universes.”

“I was upset that my mate didn’t trust me.”

“I can trust and be skeptical. It’s called critical thinking, Shadowsinger.”

“Just fix this.”

“I don’t know how!”

“Use that Infinite Impossibility…”

“Infinite Improbability Drive. And I didn’t use it before so much as bumped it. Now here we are.”

“As couches.”

“As couches.”

“When I have a body again, Vanserra, glaring will be the least of your problems.”

Chapter 2: Accident

Summary:

Two households, not so like in dignity,
In fair Prythian, where we lay our scene,
From ancient play on through infinity,
Where little mud makes little hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two dopes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers bring their strife;
Whose misadventured piteous lonesome hopes
Do with their sport bring forth their parents' knife.
The youthful spark of their hesitant love,
And continuance of their fathers' rage,
Which yet their children's pain will not remove,
Is now the minute's traffic of our page;
The which if you with patient thoughts attend,
What here shall miss, our prose shall strive to mend.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

“It was an accident.”

Two youngling Fae males with pleading, fearful eyes struggle to maintain composure.

Two fathers - furious, hard, and cold - regard their sons with disgust.

Miles and miles apart:

Two dungeons.

Two punishments.

Two lonely souls.

In the damp the winged child hears,
“Hello? Is someone there?”

In the dark the red-head feels shadows tickle his cheeks and chin. A wavering smile breaks out at the sensation. “Where are you?” he says.

“Night. Where are you?”

“Autumn.”

“But how…?”

“I don't know.”

A silence falls, and both babes tense.

“Are you alone?” the raven one asks.

“Not anymore.”

Notes:

I had to learn how to add a chapter to a work. Never done it before. I teared up a bit.

Also, did I spend more time on the parody summary than I did on the drabble itself? Yes.
Am I sorry? Not one bit.

Chapter 3: Clock

Summary:

Nobody properly appreciates a hard-working shadow. But the shadows would stop time itself to care for their Singer and his mate.

Chapter Text

Azriel's shadows excel at protecting. They travel far to gather secrets to keep their master and his mate safe. You’d think the Fae’d be grateful.

Yesterday, after whispering the last of the day's news, they turned their attention to nudging their charges toward sleep. But they'd swatted them away like wisps of cobweb – suddenly a nuisance instead of necessary.

The shadows would not be dismissed. They waited ‘til dawn crept up and the clock threatened to chime its waking song. Then, shading the sunlight and wrapping around the clock's hands, they paused the morning itself. Sleep now, master and mate!

Chapter 4: Lunch

Summary:

The struggle poor Azriel goes through for a simple midday meal with his mate

Chapter Text

“Let’s do lunch. Have your people call my people.”

“Eris, I am Lord Consort of your court. Your people are my people.”

“Ok then, have my people call my people and tell them we should do lunch.”

“I am not telling our staff to tell themselves to make a lunch date for us. My mate could make time in his schedule to eat with me on his own without any bureaucratic intervention.”

“True, but that doesn’t make me seem nearly as busy and important as saying we should do lunch and then having intercessory planners execute it.”

“Cauldron boil me.”

Chapter 5: Soup

Summary:

Seasonal courts have weird food customs.

Chapter Text

“You know what the best part of being from Autumn is?”

“That it’s never winter?”

“No, though that’s a perk. Try again.”

“The leaves are nice all the time.”

“Another virtue but still no.”

“I don’t know, Eris. Just tell me.

“It’s always soup weather.”

“What?”

“It’s always soup…”

“I heard you, Lordling. What is ‘soup weather’?”

“Weather for soup. You know, cool, crisp, and perfect for a hot bowl of soup.”

“Soup doesn’t have weather. It’s food. You eat it when you’re hungry.”

“Sacrilege.”

“This must be what not having seasons does to the Fae mind.”

“Solar court heathen.”

Chapter 6: Leaf

Summary:

Let slip the dogs of Autumn

Chapter Text

Many of Eris's hounds had names that spoke of their sleek, gray coats. Smoke. Cinder. Ash.

Others had names that alluded to their power or speed. Swift. Spright. Hale.

Azriel loved them all. But he did have a favorite.

She was not sleek or speedy. And she was the only dog to keep growling once Eris had shushed the pack. “Don't mind Leaf. She's a grumpy old lady.”

But Azriel respected beings reluctant to cease their fierce protecting. In years to come he found himself grateful for another exasperated soul to keep him company as Eris drove them both mad.

Chapter 7: Juice

Summary:

In which Cassian is not a registered dietician

Chapter Text

Azriel stumbled in through the door of the bedroom well after midnight.

“Where have you been?! You said you’d be back around dusk.”

“Casssssss’yin took me to Rita’s.”

“Interesting new pronunciation of his name. I do believe you’re intoxicated, Shadowsinger.”

“S’yer fault! You told me to eat healthier.”

“What in the world does eating healthier have to do…”

“Well, f’ya think about it, vodka’s really just potato juice. S’vegetables.”

“Azriel, dearest, are those Cassian’s words?”

“Mmmmmmmmmaybe.”

“I wonder if it’s a war crime to throttle the Night Court’s military general if I do it while he’s still at the bar.”

Chapter 8: Camera

Summary:

Eris captures a stunning view

Notes:

This drabble takes place in the same scene as my drabble Teasing which is separate from this series.

Chapter Text

Azriel heard a whistle behind him and turned to find his boyfriend grinning from behind a Polaroid camera.

“You promised no photos if I wore the jeans.”

“No, I promised to leave you alone about more costume pieces if you wore the jeans.”

“You’re a dick. What were you even photographing? I wasn’t facing the camera.”

“That spectacular ass in tight 80’s jeans.”

“I wear jeans tighter than this every day.”

“Yeah, but they don’t have a rip in in the back that gives a peak at those stunning cheeks.”

This ginger was going to be the death of him.

Chapter 9: Sleepwalking

Summary:

Helion is a busy body (Scene takes place the morning after High Lords meeting in the Dawn Court)

Chapter Text

After seeing Morrigan back to the Night Court suite, Helion wandered lazily back up the corridor toward his own rooms. Just ahead a svelte male with flaming hair silently crept into the hallway closing the door behind him.

“Eris Vanserra. What brings you to Night's wing this lovely not-quite-morning?”

The Autumn heir startled but quickly gathered himself. “Sleepwalking.”

“Ah, sleepwalking. To the Shadowsinger’s room. I hope you didn't stumble upon Truth Teller or any other blades. I hear the Spymaster is well-equipped.”

Helion cackled at the pink cheeks the Lordling sported as he strode purposefully back toward the Autumn suite.

Chapter 10: Rest

Summary:

Helion remains a busy body

Chapter Text

Two pairs of bloodshot eyes glared at one another across the room. There was nary a blink between them.

Helion observed the staring contest with amusement. It was obvious they weren't the only bloodshot orbs around, but none of the others were engaged in a contest of wills.

“It seems some of us didn't get much rest last night,” Helion quipped to no one in particular.

More than a few sets of cheeks flushed at the words. Eris and Azriel displayed no indication they had even heard, and Helion chuckled to himself at the endless ribbing he planned to offer.

Chapter 11: Depression Monster

Summary:

In which the author treads furiously the waters of this difficult life

Chapter Text

The Depression Monster is winning. If anyone has Azris requests, I think those would be motivating for me at the moment.