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freedomarrow · 1 year

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The simple celebrations of birth Garreg Mach put so much emphasis on was just one of the many blessings the monastery had provided Micaiah. When it comes time to celebrate Leonardo’s namesday, Micaiah is only all too delighted to drop off his gift, in person no less! It may not be a tradition she can continue as Queen, at least not in public, but in her heart she very much wants it to be.

(She realizes, coming from a wealthy family, Leonardo may indeed have had such celebrations before. Perhaps one day they can talk of it. She would very much like that, if it was not too painful for him of course.)

Most of the things Micaiah thinks to get for Leonardo he already has – a bag for his quivers, a blade for sharpening the teeth of his arrows, even a pouch for rations; they were equally practical the two of them, and it made thinking of a gift quite difficult.

At least until she decided to splurge. It’s from her own money doing side jobs with the florist and baker in town so he has no reason to object, surely.

The spyglass she hands him is not as large as she would like it to be but it is clearly made from well-formed brass, and able to fit into one of his larger pouches when folded. Added to the top is an ornamental blue gem that Micaiah thought resembled the shade of his eyes.

“Happy birthday, Leonardo! I thought you might find something like this useful? Not just for academy related activities, either… I was thinking maybe we could go bird watching some time, if you’re at all interested. I just saw a small bird that looked so much like Yune the other day!”

Placing the gift wrapped box in his hands, Micaiah lingers a moment to feel the warmth there. “Thank you for everything, Leonardo. I hope to celebrate like this for many years to come.”

It is something new, Leonardo thinks, for him to get used to. Well, not entirely new, perhaps; he does, after all, still have the vibrant memories of his birthday celebrations in the form of lavish parties thrown by his father, with guests, feasts and presents galore. With the boy deprived of his mother since his early days, father did his best to fill in for both parents however he could. Back then, Leonardo loved it.

It was not until father and big brother had to answer the call to Ashnard's army, that he understood just how much he took it all for granted, and how alone he really was. For his thirteenth birthday, there truly was no one by his side; as it turned out, his friends did not remember about his birthday if there was no feast for them to attend in return. All there was was a satchel of gold, sent to him by father from the war front, "for my dear son to spend as he pleases in a celebration of his own."

In a stroke of prudence largely born of anxiety over everything that was happening, he saved most of it, only spending some on a new bow and quiver - which would later become the only things that survived the faithful night along with him.

Then, of course, came the days of the Dawn Brigade, where birthday celebrations were far from grand things - occasions to rejoice that one made it through another year more than anything. Whatever gifts they got for one another, if any at all, were usually small and practical: a new weapon, a piece of clothing, the works. Something to help them continue getting by. But Leonardo grew to appreciate it, just as much if not more than those parties of childhood.

All that is to say, celebrating his birthday in a time of peace, and yet not in a form he would nowadays consider unnecessarily overblown, is something of a novelty for the archer, but he finds himself looking forward to it

Although, the first face to approach him is a familiar one. "Oh, Micaiah!" Leonardo's face lights up at the sight of the well-known features, a sign of safety and hope for him and their family. Their hands meet as she hands him the gift, and he cannot help but wonder which part of this interaction he enjoys more.

"Oh, that is lovely. Thank you. Birdwatching sounds nice," he nods with a bright smile, something of a rarity from him even in times of peace - though a little more frequent in presence of someone like Micaiah. "I hope you'll let me invite you and others to do it together someday, then? It would be more enjoyable with friends, I think."

He finds that perhaps, the best present he can receive is the knowledge and reassurance that he is no longer alone.

#【 i have my orders ⁎ ic 】#【 i grow fond of the faces around me ⁎ ask 】#birthday #【 a new dawn of daein; a beacon of hope that did not lead us astray ⁎ support: micaiah 】#((softsmile))#((thank you!))#((don't mind me using this as an opportunity to headcanon a bit asdf))

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freedomarrow · 9 months

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“Leonardo,” she says, standing at his side, carefully capturing his hand with her own; their rapport is not like that of she and Edward – could never be, as differently hued as all the Dawn Brigade are – but it is no less precious, and so slowly she entwines their fingers.

The sea meant parting to her once, but it does not have to be that way; ships may pass, but they always sail back. There is always a chance, and Micaiah has learned that is more of a blessing than many know.

Come back safe, does not leave her lips for it is too much like an order. Instead, she squeezes harder, turning to him: “I’ll be praying. To Yune and Ashera but the great god Naga as well; Professor Deirdre has said she protects all that is good and true in Jugdral so I know She will be watching over you.”

“Mm… it would make me happy if you took this though,” she says offering him a wooden charm much like she’d made prior to her own trip to Leicester. Her woodcarving skills could use some work but the image of a bird in flight surrounded by the ornate decorations on Lughnasadh’s riser are clear enough, she thinks.

“It’s for good luck, but don’t worry about losing it. If that happens I’ll just make you a new one when you come back! Maybe I’ll try a more challenging design. Any requests?”

A familiar voice calls his name, a familiar hand takes his own. He would know the voice anywhere, even if his eyesight were taken from him, and he reacts the same he always would, turning to her with a smile, gentle and bright, of the sort that few get to see from him.

He lets her speak her heart in peace. She speaks of prayers, and he smiles; Leonardo has never been too religious, but Micaiah never seemed to mind praying extra on the behalf of the entire Dawn Brigade. It felt odd, sometimes - wrong, he should perhaps say - to cast this responsibility on her shoulders, when she already had so many. It was one of the things he has always tried to show gratitude for through hard work and loyal service to Daein - the methods that he knows best.

Here she is, taking on this task once more, while he heads off for a mission... most likely to battle, too.

She then offers something more - a talisman or amulet of sorts, fashioned in the shape of a bird, adorned with decorations reminiscent of his bow, and Leonardo's expression grows warmer still as he looks at it. "Thank you, Micaiah. It will be good to have a reminder of you when I'm out there," he says, looking back to her. He then chuckles softly.

"If I lose it... I'll try to come up with something, I guess. But I've no intention of losing this one. It's beautiful, and it's from you... So I'd rather hold on to it."

He then gives her a nod, his smile fading somewhat as his hands, still holding the amulet, join with hers one last time. She did not say it out loud, but he knows - and he responds anyway. "Thank you. I'll be careful out there. I promise I'll be back."

#【 i have my orders ⁎ ic 】#【 i grow fond of the faces around me ⁎ ask 】#【 a new dawn of daein; a beacon of hope that did not lead us astray ⁎ support: micaiah 】#((Micaiah my HEART :sobbing:))#((thank you!!))

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freedomarrow · 1 year

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Micaiah may not have “officially” been on medical duty for this Battle of the Eagle and the Lion but the clerics and sisters remember her well enough to let her help once she begs them for the favor.

Leonardo is hurt, but his eyes are open, and she’s so, so proud.

“Hey,” she says, reaching forward Sacrifice coming to her hand unbidden but welcome, “I saw you out there. Both you and your opponent were amazing! To think you would be equally matched with a laguz classmate.”

She strokes his hair, letting the blue light fade before the sisters can scold her too much. “You’ve grown so strong,” she praises.

It takes a while before Leonardo gets himself to the med tent with his injuries. The scorching flame burning as it attempts to take hold of his body is a sensation he has felt on multiple occasions - Mages are one of Begnion's strengths, after all. So however agonizing it is at first, in the end... it is not unlike what he has gone and pushed through before. A little stronger - but he knows Idunn was holding back. There would not be much left of him had she not done so.

He finds an empty cot, his body appreciating immediately as he lays himself down to rest for real this time and takes deep breaths, letting himself process everything he had endured for the sake of what many students at the Academy consider to be a show of respect for Fódlan's history, and entertainment. He lets out a quiet sigh. Though his match with Idunn had proven a little enjoyable in the end, he still cannot call the entire mock battle something fun. As for "respecting history" - would ensuring it cannot repeat itself not be a better way of doing so?...

He is awoken from those thoughts by warmth on his body, one well familiar, associated with the touch of family, and he turns to see a head of silver that he knows well; and in spite of everything, he smiles lightly as she praises and heals him.

"Heh, thanks... You know I always try to do my best out there." He says quietly, spending a moment in silence before murmuring in addition: "Don't push yourself for me. I'll be fine."

He knows what Sacrifice does to her, after all. If he allowed her to overdo it, Sothe would have his head as soon as word reached him.

Her hand on his hair feels almost like a touch of a big sister that he never really had before the Dawn Brigade. It feels nice, and in spite of his moment of grumbling a moment ago, he smiles again. "Thanks, Micaiah. You're the best."

#【 i have my orders ⁎ ic 】#【 i grow fond of the faces around me ⁎ ask 】#【 a new dawn of daein; a beacon of hope that did not lead us astray ⁎ support: micaiah 】#((puppy eyes... she))#((thank you!))

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