If I See One More “I’m Sick Of All The References And Appearances From Old Campaigns” NO THIS IS

! Spoilers !

Grian out here dying like a true bad boy! (Falling to his death cause that's the only thing they were good at)

He died there and I immediately thought that was the best way for him to go out. Plus his immediate "don't tell Tim". Oh goodness.

Me: I should use the plastic cutlery to save the metal stuff for when we eat supper

Also me: *takes the biggest and best bowl available*

Meant to say this earlier but not Grian only joining those known for Watching out of necessity.

Day 3 of @teamranchersweek, platonic ranchers! Not much energy today so just a little comic instead.

For the record I think Tango would approve of Jimmy lying through his teeth to save his skin, but I also think it would be really funny if he was being 100% honest and no one believed him.

I'm normally a chronic lurker but with the release of the vengeance saga and all that happened in Six Hundred Strike I just wanted to mention the headcannon/au that's lurked in my head since the end of the wisdom saga.

It's the idea that Athena really died at the end of God Games but that since she's a being of pure power, Odysseus and Telemachus became like her successors and inherited her Devine power and potential. I didn't think anything that fit into that idea in any way would happen but even though it's not cannon my first thought watching six hundred strike was of this little idea in the back of my head lol.

Hey look I drew a thing I'm actually proud of! I can take constructive criticism but I take it best with a side of compliments XD.

The different answers to one single question.

For @literallyjusttoa from @heresronnie21, “Apollo taking Meg to meet the sun horses and tour Olympus.”

The servants often whispered about King Radian of Cloura. This is not uncommon, of course. Every castle has gossip, even the most impenetrable had to have some drama.

But... there's a difference between shady dealings and rumored magic.

Magic isn't rare, exactly. But it isn't something you see everyday. Corrin can count on one hand every time he'd encountered some.

At least, he could before coming to Cloura.

He'd heard, of course, that the King could sniff out any traitor. That there'd never been a successful reconnaissance mission. But he'd just thought he was very insightful, able to spot suspicious activity more easily then others.

Corrin could deal with that. After all, he could lie his way out of anything. Plus, he was only going to be in the castle for three days. He didn't even need to go near the king.

His first day, he was more preoccupied with fitting in then anything else, practicing blending into the background and such.

Which is why it's a surprise when the headservant calls everyone to the throne room.

One of the maids helping him adjust, Mailyn, he thinks her name was, notices his confusion.

"Did no one tell you? The King double checks loyalties weekly. A little paranoid if you ask me but I mean after his brother..." She gives a weak laugh. "Well, either way, no need to be worried. It's safer for us all this way, picking out those that might hurt us."

That does not make Corrin any less worried.

Regardless, it'd be even more suspicious to miss it. Corrin heads in anyway.

They're sent in in groups of about ten. He doesn't quite count, busy holding composure, blending in. He's just another face in the crowd. He can blend in.

It's just rumors. Rumors.

He originally attempts to keep his head low, not wanting to accidentally draw attention or make eye contact. But curiosity gets the better of him and he finally chances a glance.

His heart speeds up.

Because there's a difference between magic being uncommon and humans possessing magic. There's a difference between exaggerated rumors and glowing eyes.

Glowing eyes shining yellow, the colour of the kingdoms banners.

Glowing eyes staring right at him.

The King smirks. "You. Come Forward."

Corrin would like to pretend that he did not know he was being spoken to, but the crowd around him has already parted appropriately.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" His steps are hesitant, but he manages to keep his voice steady.

The King tilts his head. "Emperor Doven? Really? Surely someone who so easily got past my background checks should work under someone of more worth."

The hilarity of the situation has him laughing, a little. "He pays well." Corrin manages.

"For now." Is all The King replies. "Maybe I can work something out with you, make you a better offer."

Corrin nods. "Perhaps." Honestly a little lucky he's getting this chance. He can pretend he'll take it.

The King sighs. "Alas, I have other matters to attend to. You must wait until I am available in the dungeons."

"Of course." Compliance is easier, better most of the time. Lowers suspicions and perception of risk. That's the same for servants and captives.

He can be an easy prisoner. For now.

______________________________________________________________

Radian's posture droops the moment he's alone in his quarters. He's exhausted, unsurprisingly. Being King takes effort. Honestly feels like he's been going non-stop since he was 15. Since he took the throne.

(Since he finally understood what the colours meant. Since he realised why his brothers had changed.)

He wants nothing more than to fall into bed. And maybe have a snack or somethi-

"Heyo Princey." A familiar voice says from behind him.

Well. Maybe he wants one thing more.

He turns around, eyes quickly landing on the figure that would have been successfully blending into the shadows if not for his eyes lighting up the room a bit.

"Hello to you as well, Ash" He laughs slightly as they step forward. They're wearing simple clothing, and the colours- well.

He has an interesting relationship with colours, as they paint the clothes of those around him in a representation of their loyalties. He often only sees a radiant yellow as he goes through the halls, the occasional blue or grey of any visiting nobility. That was how his magic worked, after all.

But Ash has never followed any of his rules. They're dressed in many colours, purple, blue, green, black, layers and layers of depth that Radian never gets to see anywhere else around him.

And maybe it's dangerous not to know the loyalty of your partner when anyone else would be easily revealed. But everyone else is afraid, as if their loyalty isn't set in stone. Radian prefers Ash, who treats them the same as when they were the forgotten spare prince that'd gotten lost in town.

Radian feels his self smile as he meets his partners eyes. "You've been gone a while." He says, tone teasing.

"Well, you know. Hard to sneak into the castle of a paranoid king." They joke. "Plus, places to be, people to scam. I'm still working on forging those nobility papers, too." It turns into a bit of a ramble, and Radian can't help but grin.

"I get it. You're a busy person, always working hard to make money despite being partners with a literal king." He puts an arm on their shoulder as he says it, meaning to keep up the joking, but they frown.

"I wouldn't take from you like that though." They shake their head. "I don't need to steal from you like that, I can gain money myself. And even if I couldn't, I wouldn't steal from you."

"Well, it would be a gift, though." He suggests. "You wouldn't be stealing. It would be freely given."

"Money by itself is a pretty poor gift, you better put thought into something you get me." It's an attempt at bringing back the light air of their reunion. A subject change.

Radian lets it happen. "Of course. I'll get you a belt that has space for many trinkets, or perhaps an even bigger wagon for all of your faux-magic gadgets." He pokes them in the side as he says it.

Ash giggles. "I'll have you know my wares are perfectly legitimate!"

"Sure." He laughs. "I really am glad to see you though. It's been a tough day."

"Oh yeah, did you catch anyone?" They ask.

Radian sighs. "Just one, luckily. One of Doven's."

"And, let me guess, they're in the dungeon right now?" Radian avoids eye-contact. "Why? You know his are always too loyal."

He sighs, pulling Ash closer. Part of him wants to deflect, like Ash did earlier. He knows they'd respect it, but... "...I'm hoping that it'll be my brother, one of these days."

"Oh, Dian." Ash squeezes him tightly. "Come on, lets get some sleep, alright?"

Radian nods into their hair. "Alright."

The king has the ability to see team colors. Everyone who’s working towards the same goal as a group appears to be wearing the same color, regardless of what color their clothes actually are. This makes conspiring against him really, really hard.

That's what happened, I'm pretty sure