faderift | [Open] Drinks with a King

WHO: Iskandar and whoever joins him
WHAT: Iskandar has been matching Thedas months to Earth months and is guessing this is around a certain time of year. So he's hear to hold a memorial of sorts.
WHEN: Beginning of Justinian
WHERE: The docks
NOTES: Talk of death and dying. Note this is not a suicide content warning.

This wasn't the Okeanos of his dreams but he felt it would satisfy the time. That was to say he'd been figuring out how the months of this world might line up with those of his own world and had come up with the fact that his might be around Earth's June. The very same month historians had figured out he'd died at the age of thirty-two. Much had happened since that time but he felt that this was a day to honor something. Not him, of course, he had plenty of that already. No today was for those who had died living under his rule.

So he sat at the edge of the docks with a number of wine bottles around him. A couple were empty already to mark how much time had passed since he'd come out here. Around his neck was a small cat who had decided this was his favorite location to sleep even when Iskandar wasn't wearing his cloak. It was just nice to have a solid place to snooze apparently. Also there was a mabari pup next to him, sitting there as if trying to mimic the man in being calm. Not well though considering he kept wiggling about.

Iskandar chuckled and looked over his shoulder, having become aware that he wasn't alone. "Hello there. Would you care to join me? I am honoring the dead with a little memorial of sorts. You are welcome to think of your own lost ones if you like."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"But of course! That is often the case when it comes to tales!" He laughed and clapped his hand on Waver's shoulder. Really he so loved these talks that they had these days. Without thought of winning the Grail or other Servants around to bring chaos.

"You've researched me more, I'm sure. What are your favorite tales of mine?"

"Well, there's some I roll my eyes at pretty hard," Waver admitted. "Naming a city after you horse, for example."

Because really? Really?

"Hephaestion being mistaken for you by Darius' mother wins actual favorite though."

"I don't see why that should be strange. Bucephalus clearly deserves such an honor."

He's been in the process of doing something similar for Hephaestion too during his last days. Obviously, history knew how that had ended.

Well, back to the story at hand... Iskandar chuckled.

"The look on her face is one I will remember for some time to come."

"Well, first off, it's you so it is less strange than say, what Nero did with his horse. But it is also fun to gently rib about."

Oh, if Waver only knew what Nero was about. Waver shifted his weight slightly, head resting on Iskandar's chest.

"You two couldn't have looked that similar at the time, right?"

Which one in the Hetairoi had been Hephaestion anyway?

"You'd be surprised. Many might have said we were bothers when looking upon us. Of course we always felt our connection to be deeper than that."

Anyone who knew of the sorrow he expressed when Hephaestion died would be aware of that. It was as if he just didn't know how to continue in that world without his truest friend at his side.

"I think she felt she would be punished for her mistake and was shocked when I just laughed."

"Given the context of what had happened, I think she was in the right to be concerned."

That had been the conqueror Waver never saw, not really. Hints of it, yes, but never the whole thing. He had never been sure how to feel about that, if he was letting himself ignore the parts of history that were not ideal.

"You just have weird connections with everyone, I've determined."

"Weird? How are they weird?"

All he did was offer friendship before anything else. That seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do if one were to ask him. It certainly gained a lot of loyalty and respect from those that were around him if nothing else.

"It's always beyond friendship, it feels. I don't know how else to put it into words."

It isn't romance or anything else either. Weird and special and impossible to define. Much like the man himself, but that's not the point of discussion right now.

"A fair point."

He considered the point carefully as he watched the water. His relationships really were beyond the realm of friendship, each one unique in its own way. There were many he loved but each stood on their own throne in his heart.

"I think that is true. Friendship is too small a word to contain what I feel for those around me. My heart burns too strongly for it to be encompassed in something so small. Odd to say because friendship is hardly a tiny thing. But it is why my greatest treasure is and always will be the people. My followers. My cherished loved ones."

What could you say to something like that? Waver let out a low, quiet hum of agreement happy with where he was, now practically melting against Iskandar's side, head gently lodged against the man's hip.

"You're big," Waver said, finally. "Of course your capacity for such things is proportionate to you."

Lowering a hand down, he started to stroke Waver's hair, admiring how soft it was along his fingers. Waver might not always eat as well as he'd like him too but he certainly took good care of his appearance. Iskandar smiled gently as he played with the strands without looking at the man.

"I would not be the King I am if I did not allow my capacity for love to extend widely."

"Mmmm," Waver agreed, the sound coming from deep in his belly. This felt damn nice, but...oh he had to swallow a yawn. Jeez, it wasn't even late yet.

"If you keep doing that, I'm going to fall asleep here."

"Then sleep. I will wake you when it is time for us to go home."

There was plenty of time before then really. Iskandar saw no reason for them not to spend some time here with the cat on his shoulders and the dog cuddling with Waver who had his head on his lap now. It was peaceful like this, a very physical reminder of what he had now so he could know there was no need to drift into the past.

"You sure?"

Waver felt irresponsible in a way, because sleeping company wasn't exactly good company. But like this well, the whole scene was too soothing, too comfortable, too much like being wrapped up in a warm blanket beside the fire. The warm weight of the dog didn't help that feeling.

"Very."

He knew that even sleeping, Waver would still be good company for him. It was just the fact that he was there at all that made all the difference for him. Letting out a pleased sigh, he drank some more of the wine with him. He'd truly come a long way. Death to being a Servant to being ready to die again to being here and now to to being practically married to this man here with three other lovers that he adored and such a growing family.

Amazing the things that could happen in life.

"Fine. But only because you insist, not because I'm that tired."

He was a little bit that tired. Regardless of excuse, Waver let himself relax the rest of the way, eyes closed, barely focused on the rest of the noise around them. He could focus on the water lapping at the side of the docks and Iskandar's breathing. That was enough, and sleep came soon after.

Waver couldn't recall when the last time something like this scene unfolded back home. In truth, maybe it never did. This kind of thing with Iskandar was the realm of dreams, something to work toward. To be so gloriously contradicted and given this, well.

Waver would dare to say he was happy in this moment.

[Open] Drinks with a King

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