Perhaps The Fae Soldiers In Lilia's Dreams Have Referred To Silver And Company As The "iron Ones" (or

Perhaps the fae soldiers in Lilia's dreams have referred to Silver and company as the "iron ones" (or something similar, according to Twitter translations, lol) not only as a nod to the lore that fae are weak to such metal, but also because human lands are known to be lands of progress, rife with technology that's quickly putting them at quite an advantage. And perhaps that's why Briar Valley has dispatched a part of its army to the deep confines of the forest, hidden behind hooded garbs of green and gray, along with masks to incite fear: It has come time to resort to more underhanded tactics.

Hi! Can I request about MalleSil headcanons? I'm reading your work on AO3, it's absolutely amazing! <3

Oh my God, I’m so flattered to hear that, thank you...!  MalleSil is actually my favorite Silver ship (followed closely by JadeSil), so I’ll try my best to provide! :)

Okay, so.  As with all the relationships in Diasomnia, there’s a lot to unpack here.  Both of them have known each other since Silver’s youth, but as of right now, it’s hard to say how much of a hand Malleus actually had in influencing the person he is today.  However, at the very least, it’s evident that he’s important enough to Silver for him to dedicate his entire present and future to becoming his guard.  Thus, right off the bat, we already have two layers of power dynamics... not to mention the whole human-fae divide.  I’m not going to cover everything in this one response—as I literally don’t think I could shut up otherwise—but if you’d like to know more about any point in particular, feel free to DM me or shoot me another ask!

Anyway... I think that these dynamics would make it extremely difficult for Malleus and Silver to kindle any new sort of relationship at first.  The gap between them is just so vast, and Silver’s definitely content with where they’re at; he’s giving back to one of the fae who took him in when no one else would, so what more could he want for?  The happiness and well-being of those he considers family is constantly at the forefront of his mind, and he’s just so happy to be able to serve them in any way that he can.  Hence, any progress would have to be kickstarted on Malleus’ end.

As the crown prince of Briar Valley, it’s likely always been challenging for Malleus to form any meaningful connections.  Most people he comes into contact with are only interested in the fame, power, and money that follows his name, without caring to know the person it’s attached to.  Even Lilia, the closest thing he has to a father since his parents’ passing, is someone who’s associated with the court (at least formerly) and his grandmother, bound in some capacity by his loyalty to both.  Thus, I believe that Silver—along with Sebek—is the first that he can claim, with absolute certainty, wants to stick by his side because of him.  (For the sake of this ask, we'll just pretend pray that Lilia hasn't conditioned Silver to be a devout child soldier from the get-go ^^;)  Unfortunately, such pure, unselfish love ends up taking a turn into acts of servitude, lending itself to a bit of distasteful distance, but the sentiment still remains.

In an attempt to bridge the divide, I believe that Malleus will have to exercise some very explicit communication.  Silver won’t understand what exactly Malleus means by “feeling lonely”—he, Sebek, and Lilia are always at his side, are they not?  There needs to be some sort of discussion about how it’s not enough to have their silent, watchful presence nearby; what he craves is a deep, genuine relationship that’s not grounded in work.  He doesn’t need any more subordinates, but rather friends.  Thankfully, Silver is a kind and empathetic boy, so once this has been made clear to him, there should be no problems in the friendship department... leading to issue number two. :’)

As I am a firm, firm believer in Silver’s inability to read social situations that entail feelings beyond what he knows as the norm (i.e. anything that’s not platonic/familial), poor Malleus still has his work cut out for him.  In their pre-courting phase, I can totally envision him making overtly romantic, traditional gestures of interest, only to be unknowingly rebuffed.  He sets up fancy, candlelit dinners for just the two of them, only to have Silver accidentally invite his father and Sebek, as well.  And the roses he brings end up being fed to his rabbit friends, as they just “looked so hungry and weak.”  Even his rather forward utterances of love, which Lilia never fails to laugh at, are brushed off as princely etiquette.  If not for Sebek’s infuriated outburst—“YOU DAFT HUMAN, HE WANTS TO DATE YOU”—there would surely be no hope at all.  But, as it stands, Silver flushes red in equal parts embarrassment and horror (no doubt recalling his horrible misunderstandings) and finally accepts.

Once they’re in a committed relationship, they’re definitely the type of couple that does things by the book.  Outings are more formal affairs, hugs are kept brief, and kissing doesn’t happen until at least the third date.  However, no matter how many judging stares they may get from their peers, they’re perfectly content with each other and their slow, casual intimacy.  When they’re not out on dates or fulfilling their respective duties, Malleus and Silver like to sit by the fire in the evenings and indulge in mundane discussions about how the day’s classes went and their respective areas of interest.  Silver, of course, never fails to fall asleep halfway, leading to Malleus scooping him up into a princess carry and taking him back to his room.

Unfortunately, for all their soft interactions, there are still some tensions that remain—namely those brought about by the issue of race and societal position.  Malleus, like it or not, is the crown prince of a country that does not look too kindly upon humans, courtesy of a former war.  For this reason, there’s going to be opposition on all fronts, especially from his court.  Fae are so old and immovably set in their ways that despite the main cast’s more progressive mindset, they’re never going to learn to accept Silver as his partner.  He’s dirty and filthy and greedy—selfish in all the ways that only a human could be.  Besides, he has no idea how to run a country, and what about all the political gains to be had from a much preferred arranged marriage?

This, I believe, sets off Silver's insecurities. He's never truly viewed himself as worthy enough, only an ever-present burden, so his immediate reaction is to call everything off. It would be far simpler for everyone if he remained a mere guard, right? However, Malleus won't stand for such; arguing that he never wants to put Silver on, effectively, the frontlines again, he adamantly refuses. Once again, crystal-clear communication must become their saving grace (with the twst cast's unfortunate propensity to jump to conclusions and Malleus' trigger-happy jealousy, this will 100% be a common trend). I think that eventually, Malleus will have to bend a little and let his lovely little knight work—like it or not, protecting his loved ones will forever be his greatest joy in life—but in return, he receives the right to at least make things a discussion and veto power over his more reckless adventures. They'll make things work. :)

Now, considering the fact that you like my fic (which is called “If It Were Only But A Dream,” for anyone who’s interested ^^), this may or may not be the moment you’ve been waiting for... Yandere time!  Honestly, this pairing is just so perfect for my unabashed yandere tastes.  With an all-powerful fae prince as his lover, who has not only the magic and skill to physically manipulate him but also the connections and resources to control every other aspect of his life, Silver would be in quite a pickle if things were ever to get heated. Perhaps he's leaning in just a little too close to some other guard during training, or maybe it's the way he seems to smile a tad more fondly at his beloved animal friends—as these small moments begin to build up, Malleus finds himself growing more and more controlling. And Silver, in his naivety, is ridiculously easy to manipulate. So long as it doesn't concern his father, it shouldn't be a problem if he decides to dedicate just a touch more time to pleasing his boyfriend! Although, they won't actually remain as such for much longer—he also has a tragic tendency to quicken their relationship's progression with each minor slight. Ultimately, this culminates in Silver becoming an isolated, completely dependent little trophy wife, anything other than his king long forgotten (whether that be by manipulation or force, who can tell?). He really is best when he's silent and pretty, isn't he~?

(Okay, so I know I literally just said that they'd learn to talk to each other more, but for the sake of any batshit crazy Yandere AU, I think we can add a pinch of poetic faith here...)

ANYWAY... another one of my favorite AUs for this pairing is Malleus x rival prince!Silver (which might actually end up being canon at this point... in some regard lol). They've been mortal enemies since birth, their respective kingdoms caught up in some century-long feud that has resulted in the death of not only Malleus' parents but Silver's grandparents, as well. Of course, Silver being the sweet summer child that he is finds no pride in his bloody legacy—or what little he can gleam of it, at least; the courtiers have been placed under strict orders to keep him ignorant—only wishes for peace, whereas his fae counterpart has been raised with a thirst for human blood. I am so torn between having their first meeting be 1) unknowingly at a masquerade ball, Romeo and Juliet style (with just as much tragedy as an ending), 2) when Silver is dragged in as a prisoner of war, or 3) in an unexpected convention to discuss their sudden arranged marriage. But, heedless of whatever route you so desire, there is a ridiculous amount of internal strife on Malleus' part regarding the betrayal of his kind and Silver's unbearable guilt for his ancestor's actions. Spoiler alert: All choices end in Malleus killing Silver's parents, annihilating his kingdom, and taking him as the spoils of war.

Finally, a monsterfucking COUGH shapeshifting dragon!Malleus x Silver AU. One day, an innocent, unsuspecting Silver is dragged from his bed in the middle of the night and forcibly clad in a sheer white gown; his fellow villagers have run out of maidens to offer to their nearby dragon god at long last, and have decided to give him up as the virgin sacrifice instead. Malleus, of course, willingly accepts. Quickly becoming the most prized jewel of the beast's hoard, Silver finds himself living a far better life than he ever possessed back home, where he was regularly harassed for being a bastard, orphan child. Eventually, he falls in love with the very monster he's been taught to hate, with a smitten Malleus adoring his kind nature in turn. It's a picture-perfect fairytale ending all around, and he even agrees to care for his lover's eggs as a result. However, little does he know that when the kingdom's army inevitably arrives to deal with its persistent problem, he'll end up betraying his own kind, picking up a nearby sword to protect his slumbering family til the very end...

Overall, I utterly adore the flexibility that this pairing (along with any other combination of Diasomnia characters you can think of) has...! They work so goddamn well with a gothic aesthetic, as well as Victorian, horror, cottagecore, heaven-hell, and dark academia ones! Really, the possibilities are endless. What's even better is that there is so much potential for world-building within MalleSil fics, due to the nature of the different racial and political boundaries being crossed. I focused a lot on the darker aspects of their dynamic in this post, as that's simply my favorite flavor of them, but I truly do appreciate the wholesome vibes, too...! Again, if anyone has even an inkling of an interest in them, please talk to me, I'm seriously am always, always, always down to rave about them. <3

...And now, for my obligatory apology: THIS IS SO LONG OVERDUE, I'M SO, SO SORRY!!! Because I love MalleSil so freaking insanely much, I really wanted this response to be perfect (which, um, I'm not so sure it is...), to the point where I was actually kind of stressed out about it. And then, somehow, new content for them came out while I was taking a break... and I still hadn't finished. I hope this at least somewhat makes up for it! ^^;;;

(As further recompense, I'll let you in on the fact that I'm planning on dropping a new MalleSil fic very, very soon...!)

Hot take: General Vanrouge had been forced into retirement.

for @bluelightning16 ♥

a very merry (vanrouge) christmas; 2/3

The plan is fool-proof.

Silver lies awake in the warm bed he shares with his father, breath held in his throat, as he listens for the tell-tale sound of the front door hinges protesting with a stale shriek.

He had been painfully vigilant tonight, the soft inside of his forearm raw from all the pinching he had done to keep his troublesome eyes open and ward off the darkness encroaching at the edges of his vision. He had even managed to stave off his papa's curious line of questioning about the double layers of clothing that Silver had gone to bed in, claiming he was still cold from all the romping about he had done in the woods earlier.

And while it doesn't feel good, lying to his father like this especially when he knows how the fae abhor being presented with falsehoods and even more so when leaving their home alone after dusk was one of his father's few cardinal rules, it would all be worth it, he's certain! Tonight of all nights, he had to be able to master his frustrating condition and surprise his father with his resourcefulness, it was for the sake of his Papa's happiness!

As if on cue, the front door performs its grating soliloquy, and Silver scrambles hastily from the sheets to yank on his coat and shove his feet into his leather boots, acorn bracelet secured deep in his pocket. With practiced motions, he slides the bedroom window open, eyes smarting from the immediate winter chill, and shimmies over the ledge to the brief drop on the other side. Pressing himself against the shadows of the cabin wall, he pauses with a mittened hand held over his mouth to keep his breath from crystalizing in the air, ears straining for sound.

"Shall we get going then, boys?"

His father's agreeable tone rings out like a clear bell among the still scenery, and Silver peeks out carefully from around the corner of their home to see the pale moonlight illuminating two taller, cloaked shadows flanking his papa, the three of them drawing close to hold some kind of murmured conference. Closer to him and the tree line near their home sits a walled wooden cart, packed with boxes at least from what Silver can see through its sagging cloth 'curtain'. But it was clearly missing a crucial component, one that Silver couldn't see no matter how hard he squinted in the dim lighting— where was the horse?

Still, it's clear that this is his best option. How shocked Papa would be if Silver popped out from between the boxes and surprised him with his present, what a story he would have to tell Sebek! Swallowing to steel his nerves, he takes one more glance at the gathered figures to ensure their continued conversation, before darting out as quietly as he could be in keeping to the shadows of the bushes and trees. Even the woodland creatures seem to have caught on to his little ruse, not a peep emerging from the snow-capped greenery around him. But as the acorn charms press against his thigh, it's almost as if he can feel their silent encouragement, a palpable delight to see the boy they raise in tandem with the mysterious fae giddy with a rare anticipation.

Nimbly, he squirrels himself away in the cart between a few wooden crates, dragging what seems like a blanket over to disguise his presence lest his father or his other companions decide to peer into the opening. And just in time too, as Silver's heart pounds like a tiny hammer in his chest— the soft crunching of approaching feet in the snow makes itself known, and he presses himself as far back into the warm darkness as possible.

"—send it forward, then?"

The high, sharp voice grates against his ears like his father's weapons against a whetstone; it's not a familiar tone that he's heard before, but that isn't saying much considering their scarcity of visitors and remote home.

"Yes," and the way his father drawls out the command sends an odd shiver down Silver's spine, a sudden dousing of an anxious realization. "They've been on the lam for quite a while now, have they not?"

There's a slight rocking to his hiding place, and Silver realizes from the new closeness of his father's voice that he must have stepped up from where they all have gathered at the front of the cart, placing a hand on one of its shafts. " . . . Winter makes a mockery of us all, men and fae. Their desperation must be at its peak— I have little doubt that their misery far outweighs their scheming, a fact that the Queen is counting on."

They? Who were they? Papa had taught him that their Queen was fair and just, why would she ever want to see anyone miserable? And who could possibly be speaking? Surely it cannot be his papa!

The deliberate words are so tightly laced with cold satisfaction that they squeeze the air out of Silver's lungs and bear no resemblance to the warm phrases of fond amusement and gentle indulgence that have become the cornerstone of his tiny, sheltered world. And he has no time to analyze them further, as in the silence that follows his father's declarations, something utterly strange happens. The world around him, the very air and space itself, seems to twist inwards, bending in a sharp and painful way that rips his awareness from his body in one cruelly eager swoop.

To the three pairs of eyes behind, two perturbed and one newly horrified, the cart winks away into the night, leaving in its wake only the indention it had ever existed in the snow, and a trail of small, unassuming footprints.

I think that the Knight of Dawn title should be inheritable so that Silver can get a cute little name to match perfectly with his Dorm Uniform card’s Groovy :)

What if, because this is not only the Dream Quartet’s first time seeing the contents of Lilia’s dreams and the past but Malleus’ as well—Lilia never tells them anything, ever!!—he let’s it continue on for longer than normal… only to discover that his parents’ murderers were none other than Silver’s ancestors and be overcome with a vicious urge for blood. He’s not playing around anymore—where the main objective had once been their capture and imprisonment, he’ll now settle for nothing less than Silver’s head on a platter.