#[2024] rosie valentines day ❣️

[rosietrace]

『 2024 』— Rosietrace Valentine's Event

°　•　°　•　° ♡ °　•　°　•　°

Hi hi! My name is Rosie, and welcome to the 「 2024 Valentine's Event ❣」 !

This event is a follow-up to my previous Event back in 2023, which you can find 『 here 』 !

°　•　°　•　° ♡ °　•　°　•　°

|| 『 List of Written Works 』 ||

↳ Separated into two categories

|| 「 ♡ 」 — Requested Works! ||

'C'est ça l'amour (RoyWen || @/starry-night-rose)

Sweetness (MelToria || @/twsted-princess)

Warmth and Nostalgia (PrimPorter || @/starry-night-rose)

A Visitor (NovelliHault || @/valse-a-mille-temps)

Snowed in (EkoAnn || @/fumikoyasaki)

Falling for me again? (KereDavis || @/terrovaniadorm)

↳ Part Two: Midnight Picnic (Nororia)

|| 「 ♥︎ ︎」 — Non-requested Works! ||

[ BIRTHDAY SPECIAL ] Favoritism?... No!.. (Harlity || @/mystery-skulls-ghost)

Stars around my Scars (Nororia || @/terrovaniadorm)

Seeing Her (Platonic! Yuuvia || @/jasdiary)

Jealous Girl (MitchMilla || @/authoruio)

A moment of Peace (Nororia || @/terrovaniadorm)

String of Fate (One-sided! MelToria || @/twsted-princess)

•♡°─────────°♡•

|| Ask Games that will be used for the Event ||

↳ Specify which ask game you are referring to, so I can avoid confusion 💀

Love is in the Air!

Accidental Affection!

Subtle Love!

°　•　°　•　° ♡ °　•　°　•　°

|| 『 Rules!! 』 ||

↳ 「 Request via Asks, Tumblr DMs, or on my Discord “Rosietrace 🌹 ” 」

【 The Event lasts from February 14th until March 14th, aka ‘White Day’ 】

° What I will write °

Fluff, Angst, Hurt Comfort (Specify if you want a happy ending or not)

Oneshots/Scenarios

Headcanons (Relationship, date ideas, etc.)

Songfics

Matchmaking (Discussing ideas for new ships)

Oc interactions (Platonic and Romantic)

Oc x Oc

Oc x Canon

AU writings

Specific requested works based on prompts

Self indulgent works (Aka works that I will write simply because I want to)

•♡°─────────°♡•

° What I will not write °

↳ This list may be updated over the course of the Event

Anything NSFW

NSFW content involving minor ocs

Graphic written descriptions of violence

Ship dynamics w/ large age gaps

*ncest/St*pcest

Proships. No.

•♡°─────────°♡•

『 Valentine's Event Taglist 』

(TBA)

↳ [ Join the Taglist by reblogging with “#[2024] rosie valentines day ❣️” ]

°　•　°　•　° ♡ °　•　°　•　°

[rosietrace]

[Mosquito hands] Pick your poison bestie but 🍫 for Nororia since Victoria loves chocolate and Nororia loves chocolate-

✗ for Davis and Keres because the latter is a clumsy idiot >:)c

Two bad, I'm picking BOTH poisons >:) (I'll be making a separate post for Nororia!!)

Falling for me again?

(Central) Characters Featured: Davidson Novellion, Keres Perrault

↳ { Keres belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Others mentioned/featured: Dire Crowley, Lancelot Novellion, Noriko Dolion

↳ { Noriko also belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Pairing: Davidson Novellion & Keres Perrault

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 ✗ — My muse lands on top of your muse (🔄) 」

Part Two of this request: 『 Here 』

Synopsis: Keres was having a bad day! It wasn't their fault they were in such a rush, and Davis happened to be right in front of them!

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Nororia mention but Vic isn't mentioned by name, mostly through Davis' perspective unfortunately /hsrs, Crowley mentions /j /j, this honestly has more descriptions than dialogue ong 😭 Mercie I'm sorry

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⚔️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Keres was having a field day trying to balance out their schedule.

One thing's for certain, Dire Crowley is a horrible headmaster and an even worse boss.

What didn't help was that Keres’ workload always seemed to get even worse on a regular basis. Why that's the case is — by their accounts — had to do with Crowley not wanting to run certain errands and having Keres do them instead.

Not what you'd call a pleasant way to start the day off.

To say Keres was exhausted was an understatement. They're on a mission to complete all of the paperwork, and errands, and everything Crowley assigned them to do — all with very little time for themselves.

Upon hearing of their current predicament, and feeling somewhat concerned for their well-being, Lance ended up going to Davis.

Because… Well, SOMEHOW, Keres and Davis are dating.

Is Lance going to question it? No. He's seen too much to even begin to question anything of what his brother's up to at this point.

Speaking of Davis, Lance couldn't help but bring his expression into a straight deadpan. At the moment, his brother was lying facedown on his bed making disgustingly loud snores.

He had to avoid trying to scrunch his nose just from the sight of his brother so… Uncharacteristically unproductive.

“Good grief,” Lance huffed out in exasperation, pulling the bedsheets below Davis to drag him off his bed.

Which promptly ended with Davis smacking his head once it made contact with the floor.

No time was wasted, and Davis was already letting out a spur of curse words that Lance was a bit too sure weren't even curse words.

Davis rubbed his head, looking up at his younger brother in visible disapproval.

“What was that for, little brother?”

Lance dropped the bedsheets, folding his arms together. “Great, you're awake.”

“Of course, it's great that I'm awake. What, did you think I'd drop dead?”

“Don't start making remarks like that,” Lance shot back, flicking his brother's forehead.

Davis took in a sharp breath, and let it out. Lance pinched his nose. His brother really needed to brush his teeth. Or, at least, use some mouthwash.

“Why'd you wake me up in the first place?” Davis questioned in skepticism, heading to his closet to put something on; Looking ridiculous in his equally ridiculously expensive silk pajamas.

Lance hummed, sitting on the chair of Davis' desk. “Keres,” was the only response he bothered to give his dear older brother.

“What about Keres?” Call Lance crazy, but he could've sworn he heard a hint of concern in his brother's voice!

“They're having a bad day.”

“Of course they are, they haven't received a visit or a gift from me, today!”

“Not what I was referring to, Davis.”

“Then what were you referring to?” The older prince slipped on his coat, giving his little brother an expectant expression, impatiently waiting for their reply.

The expression on Lance's brother's face was unreadable beyond comparison.

But it was anything but surprising that Davis told him he'd cancel his plans for the day to pay Keres a visit.

•⚔️°─────────°⚔️•

They were in one place, then the next. Keres was anywhere and everywhere all at once, and it was starting to concern their classmates so much more.

Of course, being the absolute worst at eye contact and just being plain ‘unremarkable’ in general (their words not mine), Keres had to reject any shows of concern.

They probably would've gone out of their way to go to Noriko, but… Then again, Keres thought to themselves as they made their way out of the library, they're probably too busy trying to feed their crush chocolate-covered strawberries..

Not that that was important, it just happened to cross Keres’ mind.

You know what didn't cross their mind? A sense of direction!

Because lo and behold, Keres — being the clumsy little Wolfie they were — unknowingly bumped into someone and landed right on top of them. Dropping the scrolls they were meant to bring to Crowley's office in the process.

What's worse? Oh, y'know, just the fact that they landed on top of Davis, no big deal!

“I-I-” Keres didn't know where to even begin. One moment, they were running to Crowley's office, the next? They're on top of their boyfriend.

“I am so sorry, I-I- Uh-” Keres cleared their throat, but unfortunately, words just stopped becoming a thing for their mouth.

Davis couldn't help but chuckle, sitting himself up and pressing a kiss to their nose. “How amusing.”

“Davis, I'm so sorry- I didn't notice you'd be-”

“Shush, Little Red,” Davis shushed them, pressing his finger against Keres’ lips to shut them up.

Begrudgingly, Keres complied. Simultaneously embarrassed by their clumsiness, and frustrated by Davis' inevitable teasing.

“Now then, let's get you up,” for someone that frustrated them from time to time, Keres had to admit: Davis' voice was assuring when the situation called for it.

“I…” Keres bit their inner cheek, pursing their lips in light of their embarrassment. “I'm-”

“Sorry? Oh, Keres, darling,” Davis planted another seed of a kiss on the top of Keres’ forehead. “It's not like I'm mad, or anything.”

“In fact, I quite enjoyed that.”

Keres blinked. Multiple times, for that small eternity, they blinked. Baffled.

“You did-?”

“Why wouldn't I?” Davis replied to Keres’ perplexed query with one of his own. Seeing their bewilderment was so adorable and so endearing to Davis, you see.

He just couldn't help but want to tease them further.

“I want you to tell me something, Little Red.”

Keres’ eyebrow arched up, feeling all the more bewildered by Davis' request, and even more so from how blatantly unexpected that was.

“... Okay,” Keres tilted their head to the side. “What… What is it that you-!”

Rather aggressively, Davis grabbed Keres by their chin, pulling them closer. With how he towered over them, Keres couldn't help but continue to feel intimidated even after dating Davis for quite some time.

He brushed the bottom of their lips with an amused glint in his eyes — his face dangerously close to theirs.

“Was that your way of showing you are falling for me again, Little Red?”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⚔️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @mystery-skulls-ghost

[rosietrace]

Waddles in with cookies

C- Can I have a Mel x Victoria fic pretty please? I don't got a lot of ideas but I think Vic deserves to be spoiled and loved.

OFCCC POOKIE BEAR (I'm so sorry this took so long 😭 Happy belated birthday, Mel!!)

Sweetness

(Central) Characters Featured: Victoria Shard, Melanie Charmant

↳ { Melanie belongs to @/twsted-princess }

Others mentioned/featured: Zenith Devi, Sumeragi Yuuta

Pairing: Victoria Shard & Melanie Charmant

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 Fluff w/ Slight Angst 」

Synopsis: Sugary sweets such as chocolate chip cookies always make anyone's day, surely it would work on her, too?

Warning(s): Implied one-sided/unrequited love if you squint, like- One vague reference to a specific WIP, generally fluffy, potentially ooc

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“And then I found another letter… How peculiar.”

Zen giggled, circling Victoria as they walked the halls of Night Raven. “Whoever this secret admirer is, Tori, they sure seem to admire you!”

Victoria sighed, a soft smile on her lips. “Now, let's not make any assumptions, Zen,” she dismissed, bringing another piece of chocolate into her mouth. “Although I will say their taste in chocolate is impeccable.”

Zen could only snicker, endeared by his best friend's fondness for sweets.

“Well, whoever they are, they're definitely treating you right!”

“Perhaps, so.”

“Don't you ever wish you could meet them eventually?...”

Victoria thought about that possibility for a quick moment, sitting down against the tree in the main courtyard.

“I haven't thought much of it, really. However, if I do somehow meet them-”

Anything else Victoria was going to say after that had to be cut short, as a familiar face came their way.

Melanie Charmant was a perplexing topic of conversation — at least, in the eyes of Victoria Shard. Zen didn't think much of Melanie, not much to be said, simply saying she was ‘nice’.

“Zen!” Melanie sighed with relief, panting so heavily she looked like she had run a marathon. “Thank God I found you…”

“Aww, did little Miss Charmant miss me?” Zen chuckled, standing up from beside Victoria to stand beside Melanie, using his magic to give Melanie a bit of a ‘cooldown’.

“You look rather parched,” Victoria pointed out once she finished chewing on her chocolate. “Are you alright?”

Melanie felt her face heat up, taking a step back and almost stumbling.

It was obvious to everyone — perhaps even to Victoria — that Melanie may or may not fancy the ice queen of Pomefiore.

That, at least, made Zen pity her. Poor girl was so obvious she almost fell to the ground at the realization Victoria was there the entire time.

“S-Sorry, Victoria! I… I didn't notice you were there,” Melanie laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck with an equally awkward smile.

Victoria hummed, rather puzzled by Melanie's behavior. “It's fine.”

“Ahahaha- Anyways! Mel,” Zen turned to Melanie with an enthusiastic grin. Perhaps a bit too enthusiastic.

“Do you need anything?”

“Uh- Well…” Melanie's stiff little smile remained, feeling quite discomforted by the fact Victoria was listening.

For obvious reasons, it was clear that Zen understood her stiffness. Victoria seemed to take her nervousness as a memo to give her and Zen their privacy, and promptly stood up.

“I'll leave you two to your own devices.”

Zen pouted. “Aw man, really?”

“I have a lot on my schedule today, Zen.”

“Can't you stay a couple more minutes longer?”

“As much as I'd love to, I have a busy work schedule, Zen.”

Zen chortled. “Does that work schedule consist of you trying to outdo a certain housewarden?”

Victoria's eyes narrowed, and she only gave Zen's forehead a brief poke. “Not the point.”

He chuckled. “Fine,” he embraced her. Melanie noted that Zen was akin to a koala with the way he clung to Victoria.

Amused beyond belief, Victoria gently gave him a pat on the head, returning his embrace with a soft smile.

Melanie found herself getting even more flustered when her gaze flickered to Victoria's smile. She always looks so pretty when she smiles…

Victoria bid Melanie and Zen farewell before walking away with a black box of chocolate in tow.

Melanie drew out a breath, eyes softening further as her crush walked away without another word.

Her attention soon shifted back to Zen when the latter clapped his hands to grab her attention. Well, at the very least, he was successful.

“So! Mel,” he placed his hands on his hips with an encouraging smile, “what can I do for you?”

“Huh-? O-Oh, right!” Melanie composed herself, clearing her throat and putting her hands behind her back. “I've been.. Wanting to ask you something about Victoria?”

Zen's eyebrows shot up. “Tori?” He cocked his head to the side. “Well, I mean I could, but she was just here earlier, why didn't you ask her then?”

Melanie frowned, looking down. She knew that Zen knew why, that he was just trying to be nice by pretending not to know the most obvious crush in Night Raven College.

Hesitating for a moment, Melanie fiddled with her hands behind her back, trying to find the right words to use.

“I was thinking… Does Victoria like sweets?”

Zen laughed. “Of course! Y'know, a lot of people don't know this, but her sweet tooth is actually insane,” he wrapped an arm around Melanie. “She has a whole pantry in her room, it's wild.”

“Huh,” Melanie was pleasantly surprised by this new piece of information. “Does she like chocolate in general, or…?”

“All kinds,” Zen answered swiftly. “However, if you ask me, she's the most fond of milk chocolate. Especially milk chocolate chip cookies.”

“That's…”

“Unexpected? Sure, but Tori's always had a soft spot for sweets!”

So she likes chocolate….

Based on the look in her eyes, Melanie Charmant was on a mission to brighten her crush's day and she'd be damned if she were unsuccessful.

•♢°─────────°♢•

It was a meticulous piece of work, honestly.

Yuuta judged her a bit for it, but Melanie was determined to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe to impress Victoria.

She didn't know the woman all that much, and in all honesty, she barely understood why she had a crush on her, to begin with.

But Melanie just felt this undying spark every time she and Victoria happened to look into each other's eyes, and her heart seemingly bursts then and there!

“Geez, Mel, you're gonna keep making this perfect?” Yuuta walked into the kitchen being an almost complete mess, and he scrunched his nose. Especially when he looked at Melanie.

In her cute ruffled apron, Melanie was decked head to toe in flour and was emitting the smell of melted chocolate all over her body.

“Oh-! Hi Yuuta!” Melanie greeted, giving her roommate a quick wave before shaping the cookies with her cookie cutters.

Yuuta rolled his eyes, walking to the pantry. “You sure you don't need any help there, Missy?”

“I'm fine,” Melanie insisted. Although Yuuta could see the slight anxiety as she prepped the cookies to bake in the oven.

He frowned, holding the poor girl by her chin and wiping away some flour off her face.

“You need to stop stressing out,” Yuuta told her, sighing to himself in disapproval. “I'm sure Shard's gonna like the cookies.”

“But I need them to be perfect, Yuuta,” Melanie remained persistent in her little ‘quest’.

“Missy,” Yuuta flicked her forehead, his frown deepening on his face.

“It's gonna be fine. Stop freaking out about it.”

“But-”

“Look, I get that you have a crush on her or something, but it's gonna work out.”

For a moment, Melanie just stood there, letting Yuuta's words simmer in her mind.

Would it work out? Sure, Melanie knew she had feelings for Victoria. That she fancied her and her gorgeous hair, her cat-like eyes, her… Everything.

But she had no way of knowing Victoria felt the same way.

And it hurt her to know of that fact.

But maybe Yuuta had a point.

Maybe, just maybe, she didn't need to worry so much. That Victoria will actually like her gift and that all her anxieties were for nothing.

“... Okay.”

•♢°─────────°♢•

Now, as much as Melanie wanted to take Yuuta's half-assed advice to heart, she really didn't wanna risk facing rejection from Victoria from giving her the cookies.

So, the young Queen of Genovia devised a plan: A little before Victoria went to her first period, Melanie would head to her classroom and place her box of cookies on Victoria's desk.

She giggled a bit, feeling rather giddy. I hope she likes it..

Melanie left the classroom and felt enough within herself to watch Victoria from a distance and see her reaction.

In full truth, Victoria did love the gift in the end.

But what Melanie didn't come to notice earlier was the small bouquet of roses and a note from an anonymous admirer that happened to be beneath the desk.

An admirer that wasn't her.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@twsted-princess

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @hallowed-delights / @terrovaniadorm || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya || @abyss-wonderer || @mystery-skulls-ghost

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

Favoritism?... No!..

(Central) Characters Featured: Trinity Valentin, Harlan Westerly

↳ { Harlan belongs to @mystery-skulls-ghost }

Others mentioned/featured: Maxwell Murray, Samuel, Walton Morrigan

↳ { Max and Samuel belong to @terrovaniadorm }

Pairing: Harlan Westerly & Trinity Valentin

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Birthday Oneshot! 「 Happy birthday, Erin! 」

Synopsis: Trinity does not have favoritism for her boyfriend! What made you think that? (Aka, moments that explain her unabashed favoritism)

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Trinity being a clingy bitch /j, inaccurate depictions of baking, Walton is his own warning, implied manslaughter, overall very fluffy

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「💄」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“Ugh, Walton, shut your face already.”

Trinity ignored the deadpanned look on Walton's face, continuing to mix the vanilla cake batter with utmost brutality.

“I didn't say anything, Trin,” Walton had pointed out, taking a sip of his energy drink. “It was you who was annoyed enough to pretend I did.”

Trinity gave him a sharp glare. “I said shut your face, not mouth.”

Her snarl got a chortle out of Walton. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Trin.”

Trinity rolled her eyes at him, placing the batter onto the baking pan and placing it into the oven.

“You’re lucky you're more tolerable than Samuel.”

“Not that hard,” Walton leaned against the kitchen counter, humming to himself. “The little ingrate makes it easier to be more tolerable than him.”

At least that was something they could both agree on.

“Finally, you say something smart,” Trinity dusted off their hands on their apron.

Walton wanted to retort a reply to that remark but didn't. Bothering Trinity Valentin was less of a hobby and more of an everyday inconvenience — one that he didn't have any energy to succumb to, at the moment.

It was better for him to give them his signature condescending smile and leave than to create an argument that got them in trouble with Maxwell.

When he left, Trinity breathed out of relief. Finally, he's gone.

Then again, Trinity sat near the oven to watch their cake go into its baking stage. I'd have throttled him if he stayed around a moment longer.

While she was waiting for her cake to finish baking, Trinity left for the pantry to get a little snack. The cake wasn't set to finish until after 25 to 45 minutes, at most, so Trinity had little to worry about.

After getting her snack, she returned to the kitchen to find Harlan looking through the fridge.

Trinity's eyes beamed in delight, rushing to their boyfriend's side with excitement.

“Harly!” Trinity exclaimed, clinging to Harlan like he was a koala. He paid no mind to it, continuing to look through the fridge.

“Trinity,” was Harlan's curt response to her koala hug. Noticing the slight discomfort in his stance, Trinity had pulled away from their one-sided embrace and smiled warmly.

“You doin’ okay, Harly?” No one really knew why Harlan put up with Trinity's constant usage of that nickname for him, but he did.

He nodded. “Simply looking.”

Cocking their head to the side, it didn't take long for Trinity to put two and two together and figure out what he meant.

They stifled their laughter. “Main fridge ran out of that abomination drink, Harly.”

Harlan hummed, his eyes narrowing at the internal storage of the fridge. “So it would seem,” he replied.

Trinity giggled, dragging him to their dorm room. “Don't worry, Harly! I have a full stock in my room!”

“You do.”

“Of course I do!”

“That's….”

“Now, before you say anything, Harly,” Trinity opened the door to her room, revealing the 90s y2k fever dream it was to Harlan. “I only bought a full stock to indulge in your weird obsession with it.”

Harlan nodded, entering the room and narrowing his eyes at the y2k vomit that was Trinity's room.

“Your room,” he breathed beneath his… Well, breath. “It's very…”

“Creative?”

“Decorative.”

Trinity pouted. “Harly, is that a good thing or not?”

Harlan blinked. “Interpret it however you wish,” he said simply, being handed the energy drink by his partner.

“You're no fun sometimes, Harly,” Trinity pushed the rim of his glasses back a bit. “Loosen up a bit.”

Harlan stared at them, blank-faced and silent.

A breath was let out, and Harlan ruffled Trinity's slightly messy hair before he left their room — making their hair all the messier.

But to say Trinity was unhappy was a horrible assumption.

•🎀°─────────°🎀•

“I'm telling you,” Walton said honestly, “you, young Trinity, are a person obsessed.”

Trinity scrolled her phone, legs crossed as she laid down on the couch. They chortled to themselves, brushing off Walton's words like they were nothing.

Which, in their eyes, they did meant nothing.

“Bullshit,” Trinity declared, “also— Don't call me ‘young Trinity’.”

“I'm your upperclassman.”

“Doesn't mean you should call me that.”

“I feel like I'm obligated to give a friend of mine a nickname, Trin.”

“When have we ever been friends?” At most, the two of them were civil acquaintances.

Walton shrugged, his expression telling them that he always figured that notion.

The very thought made Trinity want to vomit, which was apparent from the look on their face.

They gagged just by thinking about it for too long. “I'd rather hang myself than deal with you for longer than necessary.”

“Good for you,” Walton's eyes rolled, his focus shifting back to that abomination in his hands that he called an ‘invention’.

Not wanting to waste any more time with her weirdo of an upperclassman, Trinity made a beeline to the dorm rooms to hang out with Harlan because… Well, she can.

She raced around each hallway, disregarding every other room and treating ‘looking for Harlan’ like it was a personal mission; One that Trinity was determined to succeed at.

Of course, when Trinity saw Harlan standing before the door that definitely didn't lead to his room, their eyebrows knitted themselves together.

What the hell? Trinity slowed down their movements, instead of racing towards their boyfriend they strode.

Their head cocked to the side curiously, their arms folded over their chest. What could Harly be doin' there?

“Harly?” Once she got close enough, Trinity called out to him. “Honey, you doin' okay?”

Harlan took one look at Trinity, then turned his attention back to the door in front of him. He was mumbling some sort of observation, but he was too quiet for Trinity to properly hear.

However, based on the scent that was reeking from beyond the door, Trinity knew exactly whose room it was: Walton's.

“Harly,” head cocked to the side in slight concern, they tapped his shoulder to grab his attention.

“What do you think is beyond that door?” Harlan refused to tear his gaze away from the door, a look of intrigue plastered all over the face that Trinity cherished with all their heart.

“Uh,” Trinity paused, considering how to answer that sort of question. “Well, it's Walton's room, plus, it stinks like shit from here, Harly.”

“Why do you ask?”

From behind the lens of his glasses, Trinity saw Harlan’s eyes narrow.

“... Decay,” he uttered, “possibly remains of an unknown specimen, likely rotting for the past two — maybe three — days…”

Harlan found Trinity's hand, clinging to it in such an uncharacteristically gentle manner.

Trinity wondered what was going through his head. After silently speaking of speculated ‘decay’, Harlan was off in his own little world; Monologuing in a comfortable silence whilst holding their hand.

It was both endearing, if not a little unnerving.

Trinity loved Harlan, truly, they did, but it always seemed to frustrate them to no end that — at times — they couldn't seem to figure out what was going on in that unreadable brain of his.

The current moment they shared happened to be one of those happenstances.

Frustrated from standing near the disgusting stench of Walton's dorm room door for too long, Trinity's grasp on Harlan's hand had tightened as they dragged him to the dorm kitchens to help them bake…. I don't know, cookies.

It was only at that moment when Harlan's gaze tore away from the door and drilled itself through Trinity.

The unusually hypocritical and seemingly emotionless boy had always found an interest in the person dragging him to the kitchen.

In a way, they held their similarities. Harlan didn't know what those similarities were, but he could sense them.

Feel that urge to cling to Trinity for God knows what reason.

For once, Harlan was willing to put his own speculations aside.

And it was all for Trinity.

•🎀°─────────°🎀•

Trin, you biased little…

Walton wasn't even surprised at this point.

Seeing Trinity be so enthusiastic about Harlan helping her bake cookies was basically an everyday occurrence.

“Harly, stop drinking that abomination and help me put in the chocolate chips!”

“Do you think-”

“Honey, I love you, but I do not have time to deal with your little theories about fae species. We'll talk about that another time.”

Trinity patted Harlan's cheek, and not even a second later, they kissed his cheek. It wasn't even close to a slap, and yet — there they were — pecking Harlan's cheeks as a form of ‘apology’.

Once the chocolate chips had been set and the cookies were eventually put in the oven, Trinity gave Harlan a winning smile. “Any snacks you want me to make while we wait?”

“Is that necessary,” Harlan seemed to deadpan.

“Oh, let loose a little, Harly,” Trinity giggled. Heading to the fridge, they looked back at Harlan.

Then came the question: “Anything you want in particular?”

Harlan let himself stand still, a sullenness hanging between him and Trinity. He blinked, shaking his head.

“As long as it isn't yogurt,” Harlan answered dismissively.

Trinity sighed, taking out the energy drink she had kept for ‘emergencies’ and pouring Harlan a glass.

“I don't get why you keep drinking this shit,” their face twisted just from looking at it for too long. “It's got the color of a glowstick…”

“We all have our opinions,” Harlan stated, taking a sip.

Trinity hummed, leaning against the counter beside him to drink a glass of water. “You're lucky I love you,” they smiled up at them.

Harlan didn't reply much to that, only placing his hand over Trinity's well-combed hair and ruffling it a bit. This, in turn, gave him the consequence of dealing with an over-affectionate Trinity while the cookies were still baking.

Not that that was anything new.

“And they say they aren't biased,” Walton murmured beneath his breath.

Max sat across from Walton, putting down their slice of pizza so the two of them could briefly share a moment of staring at the couple in the kitchen.

The housewarden and the inventor shared a look, coming to a silent, mutual agreement.

Favoritism is Trinity's middle name.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「💄」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

Dedicated to: @mystery-skulls-ghost

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@terrovaniadorm || @twsted-princess || @geminiiviolets || @abyss-wonderer || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya

[rosietrace]

Jealous Girl

(Central) Characters Featured: Camilla Marigold, Mitch Reiss

↳ { Mitch belongs to @/authoruio }

Others mentioned/featured: Davidson Novellion, Neige Leblanche

Pairing: Camilla Marigold & Mitch Reiss

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Non-requested Oneshot! 「 Displaying Jealousy 」

Synopsis: He wasn't hers, and neither was she his. So why was it that when Mitch spent more time with people who weren't her, Camilla wanted to turn them to stone?

Warning(s): Camilla /j /j, Cami's a bitch but what else is new, Neige is oblivious to all 😔, Mitch thinks Cami's a witch but you just need to replace a letter- 💥🔫, potentially ooc

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「𓆙」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Camilla never got jealous. She always told herself (and others) that, and usually she's entirely truthful about that fact about herself, in particular.

While Camilla was never the most honest among her peers, when it came to how she expressed herself — especially around people she considered ‘friends’ — she's an open book.

Unfortunately for the students of Royal Sword Academy, it seemed most of the student body had to walk around with a blindfold over their eyes; Camilla Marigold’s in a sour mood and that never ended well.

It was during lunchtime when Camilla spotted Mitch. The girl was quite enamored with the young man, and it wasn't hard to see why.

Mitch was… Well, Mitch was a lot of things, and one of those things was that he happened to be Cami's type.

Tall — taller than she was —, spoke his mind, pushed himself to his limits, intelligent (to some degree), and had an attractive face.

… Okay, maybe the details were pretty vague about why Camilla was attracted to him other than his looks, but trust that she liked him for more than that!!

Anyway! To transition into a more important topic, Camilla leaned against her table, grumbling to herself with narrowed eyes.

Neige had taken it upon himself to give Mitch some company, babbling about boring kinds of topics like… Whatever it is bland prince charmings like Neige talked about.

Ugh, Camilla hissed beneath her breath, the scales beneath her uniform beginning to itch. That little brat just doesn't know when to shut up, huh?...

“Are you watching Mitch again?”

Camilla released a large hiss, her hair on the brink of turning into her gossip-loving serpents. Upon seeing that it was just Davis — “blander than his color palette” — Novellion, Camilla just rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Mitch and Neige.

“None of your business,” she retorted. Then she processed what Davis said before. “Also- What do you mean, again?”

“I thought it was obvious.” Davis was a lot of things, but at least he and his pompous ass knew what boundaries were and didn't try making himself comfortable on Camilla's table. “You like him.”

She hissed again. “I do not!”

“You do.”

“Do not.”

“Do too.”

“Do not!”

“I'm not having this conversation with you,” Davis exhaled, exasperation evident in the way he carried himself.

Probably because of that jousting incident last week, Camilla elicited a series of pitiful yet disgusted sounds at Davis' injured arm hanging from its cast.

That wasn't important, however. A different story for a different day. Whatever Davidson Novellion had going on in his life wasn't any of her business.

“Just-” Whatever words tried to get out of Camilla, she preferred not getting in trouble for offending a prince. “Just leave. Seriously, just leave.”

Davis gave her a knowing look, then shrugged his shoulders, letting them relax once he walked away from Camilla's isolated lunch table.

Not before telling her one last thing, though.

“If you think you were being subtle about your jealousy, Marigold, do keep in mind that you were never good at being subtle.”

•𓆙°─────────°𓆙•

Camilla wasn't the jealous type!

Whatever nonsense Davis was spouting, that's all it was. Nonsense. Camilla wasn't petty enough to stoop down to that level!

To prove any accusers wrong, she decided to try and be nice for once! Approaching Neige and Mitch with her best attempt at a polite smile.

A half-assed attempt to convince Mitch she wasn't someone to be wary of, but an attempt nonetheless.

“Leblanche!” Camilla ran up to Neige with a hearty grin, nearing the urge to gag at the way she ran like a befreckled lovestruck schoolgirl.

Neige turned to face her, that sickeningly sweet smile of his never seeming to fade. “Ah, Mari! It's so good to see you again!”

“Yes, quite!...” Camilla clasped her hands together, her smile painfully close to twitching away. She looked to Mitch, trying to gauge a reaction out of his impassively handsome face and getting next to none.

She harrumphed, pushing past Neige to stand before Mitch, face to face.

Mitch’s eyebrow raised in suspicion. “What is it that you want, Camilla?”

“Aha,” she smiled, cocking her head to one side and feigning coyness with him. “I'm not sure I get what you mean, Reiss.”

“Your presence isn’t welcoming.”

“I'd beg to differ, but I suppose we all have our opinions.”

“Your smile. It's-”

Her grin widened, and eyelashes batted at him. “Dazzling?”

Mitch straightened his stance. “Half-assed.” There remained his no-nonsense, emotionless expression.

Oh, how I wish to kiss you, Camilla thought whilst looking into his eyes. And strangle you all the same.

“So!” Neige just had to chime in, didn't he? “Mari, did you need something?”

“Yes, actually!” Camilla grit her teeth, her attitude becoming notably less sly and more forcefully cheerful.

“I've been meaning to spend some time with Mitch.”

Her gaze wanted to meet Mitch's, her smile having turned genuine with a simple turn of her head towards him. “If he would care to join me.”

“Oh! I'm sure Mitchy wouldn't-”

“That won't be necessary.”

Ah. It seems Neige was delighted by the prospect that needn't involve him, yet Mitch? Not so much.

“Oho? Why is that?” With her patience wearing thin, Camilla's attention remained solely on Mitch. Whatever Neige had to say could wait to be processed later.

Mitch sure wasn't persuaded. Then again, he never was when it came to Camilla's venom-laced tongue. “I'm sure you know exactly why.”

“I don't quite follow,” one step forward.

Another step forward. “I believe that to be false.”

“Is that so?” Camilla's smile faltered. Just the slightest bit closer, and Mitch could note the detail of scales on her neck. Perhaps even feel her breath against his chin.

“I'd prefer keeping things brief,” Mitch began escorting Neige far, far away from her. “But after what had gone down during VDC, I don't feel inclined to leave Neige to his own devices.”

“Apologies, but I must decline your offer.”

That didn't feel, nor sound, like an apology.

Camilla watched, with an inferno of aggravation lighting up in her eyes, as Mitch and Neige’s silhouettes slowly became colored shapes in the distance.

Her unique magic activated all on its own, mostly due in part to the way her emotions were affecting her current state of mind.

Her golden blonde locks lifted, the feeling all but unnerving when they melded together and became the serpents she both loved and despised.

“Oh, my darlings,” she whispered, practically hissed. A poor try at recovering her bearings. “You won't believe the gall of that man…”

No one dared draw near Camilla, especially not with her serpents around. Eye contact became something to avoid, and any greetings from friends were all but brief — no matter her efforts, Camilla couldn't help but tempt fear into the hearts of her peers.

She grit her teeth as she entered the comfort of her bedchambers. One of her many ways of relaxing was to hold one of her rifles.

Not shooting it, not loading it with ammunition, not even toying around with it… All she had to do was just hold it. And she felt content.

But a plethora of thoughts came to mind. Many of them unwanted, particularly in the topic of impassive little Mitch; A man who wasn't quite so little.

Camilla laid down on her bed, wrapping a blanket around and curling up pathetically — repeating the same words in her head like it was some mantra.

I am not a jealous girl.

•𓆙°─────────°𓆙•

She wasn't jealous!!

Camilla was a lot of things: Hypocritical, cunning, a bit too persistent for comfort, but not jealous!

With a need to blow off steam after that encounter with Neige and Mr. “I must decline your offer”, Camilla went to the beach that stood near RSA’s campus building.

With her pistols in hand, she swung and spun them around between her fingers — taking deep and heavy breaths to allow a sense of calm to wash over her.

That was when she began firing shots.

There wasn't much land or transportation near Sage Island. It was one of the reasons why Camilla was being so careless about where she was shooting.

However, when the sounds of footsteps over the sand drew near, Camilla pointed one of her guns at whoever dared approach her.

Mitch stopped in his tracks, an unsurprising face of neutrality as Camilla pointed her gun at him; A lack of fear at the possibility she'd get pissed off just from looking at him and pull the trigger.

“What are you doing here?” Camilla forced the words to come out.

“I could ask you the same thing,” said Mitch, “Isn't it unsafe for you to be firing those shots so carelessly?”

His tone was so matter-of-fact it made her want to hurl. “There's nothing and no one nearby. What am I gonna shoot? The seagulls?”

“You could if you were sufficiently motivated enough.”

“Don't test my patience, Mitch.”

“And,” Mitch continued, lowering her gun and taking another step towards her, “I don't remember us being on a first-name basis.”

“I don't remember you having the privilege of interrupting me while I was blowing off steam, but I'm not making any remarks, am I?”

“It sounds like you are.”

Camilla scoffed, putting one pistol into the holster to give Mitch a dismissive wave of her hand.

Mitch had a lot of opinions about Camilla Marigold — some good, many of them bad. But one of her key figures of interest was…

Well, she was pretty. Not even someone like Mitch could deny something like that. Especially not when her golden hair seemed to glow under the light of the sunset.

Whatever blabber Camilla was saying, Mitch couldn't hear it. He didn't feel the need to. Not with the way she stood there so horribly prettily with her shining hair blowing in the wind.

It was an oddly specific, yet significantly romantic setting. The kind of scenario Mitch refused to bring up in whatever conversation he was having with her.

“... You said you were blowing off steam?”

Her ramblings fell short at his words, and they both stared at each other for longer than what seemed necessary.

She coughed, avoiding his attentive gaze. “Yeah… Why, you got a problem with that?”

Mitch huffed. “I don't.” He then looked down at the ground, at the soft sand beneath them, before looking up once more.

“... May I?” He reached out to gently touch her face, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear.

Camilla felt heat rise from her neck up to the tip of her head. “W-What are you doing??” She nearly stumbled as she stepped back.

“Apologies,” Mitch said briefly, “but I asked you a question?”

“Well sorry, Mr. Personal Space, but I didn't quite follow.”

Silence soon fell upon them yet again, lasting far longer than it did before. So unnerving even with the contrived peacefulness of it all.

Camilla pouted. Both her pistols were in their respective holsters, her arms folded over her chest. “Well?”

Mitch’s eyes flickered their attention between her, her eyes, and the pistols safely tucked into their holsters.

He said nothing for a long while, doing nothing but gaze at her with that attentive, almost lost look in his eyes.

He gestured to one of her pistols. And when she — very cautiously — handed one of them to him, he aimed at the far distance.

“... Would you allow me the honor of joining you?”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「𓆙」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@authoruio

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@hallowed-delights || @geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer

[rosietrace]

Ah! Ok so hi Rosie!! For the Valentine ask can I get my lovely boy Cyrus with Sumeragi, And let’s go with the subtle love ask with number 20 and perhaps accidental affection with ❅.

Have fun with this and take your time babes <3

(Also I noticed that if these two were to genuinely get together they would be the black cat x golden retriever duo😭)

Hi Cece!! You have sent, and I shall deliver ‼️‼️🕊️‼️🕊️🕊️‼️‼️

Watercolor Eyes

(Central) Characters Featured: Cyrus Olympia, Sumeragi Yuuta

↳ { Cyrus belongs to @/cecilebutcher • @/twst-stupid-ocs }

Others mentioned/featured: Dire Crowley

Pairing: Queerplatonic! Cyrus Olympia & Sumeragi Yuuta

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 Prompt 20 — “Stopping themselves from messaging the other too often” • ❅ — “My muse cuddling up to yours” 」

Synopsis: Cyrus can't seem to stop spending time with Yuuta, let alone stop messaging him!... Even during moments when Yuuta's right next to him.

Warning(s): Ambiguous relationship between Cyrus and Yuuta (interpret it however you will), black cat x golden retriever™, Yuuta's a bitch but what else is new, Crowley mentions 😨, potentially ooc, mostly based on that lyric of ‘Dear Arkansas Daughter’

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「❀」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Cyrus had heard a lot about Yuuta from Nestor, most of which were negative.

One of the more notable things Cyrus had heard about the anomalistic prefect of Ramshackle dormitory was that he wasn't of this world— and in his own, joking way, Cyrus could see that in the way Yuuta presented himself.

They weren't doing much while they were lounging on his bed; Both of them doing their own thing while still vaguely acknowledging the presence of the other once every 15 minutes, or so.

Yuuta sat against the headboard, legs straight and folded over the other while he focused his attention on taking notes for his next alchemy ‘reduction exam’.

Cyrus on the other hand was busy scrolling through his phone, calmly listening to his own music in the process.

After another long moment of continuous yet calming silence, Yuuta lightly tapped Cyrus’ shoulder. “Cy.”

Cyrus turned to Yuuta, cocking his head to the side at what the latter decided was a precarious angle. “What?”

“How the hell do you work around this formula?” Yuuta motioned to one of the formulas in his textbook.

Cyrus let out an “Ah”, scooting somewhat closer to give Yuuta a more thorough elaboration on how to go about that particular poison formula.

It was almost outrageous and concerning how good Cyrus was at poison-making. Then again, Yuuta's faced classmates and the occasional student from a rival academy with even stranger hobbies and talents.

Back to the point, however, Cyrus couldn't help but sneak a glance at the prefect once every hundred seconds during his elaboration.

He couldn't even scold himself for not focusing enough.

Yuuta was unironically attractive to Cyrus; His dark brown hair styled in a ponytail quite similar to his own, his seemingly 1920s-inspired way of dress— even when, at times, Yuuta wore the kind of revealing outfits he'd seen male idols wear. The kind of outfits 1920s men probably would have shot themselves for before they could even begin to fathom wearing something like that.

His most striking feature, however, was his lavender eyes. Cyrus believed eyes were the window to the soul, and there seemed to be quite the mysteriousness to the lavender hues of Yuuta's set, in particular.

The shade matches him, Cyrus thought to himself while he stole another glance.

By that point, however, Cyrus had been caught red-handed and earned a skeptical raise of Yuuta's brow in reply.

“What’re you looking at?” Yuuta questioned, his voice cautious. “Is there… Something on my face?”

Other than pure handsomeness? Cyrus shook his head at the sudden offhandedly thrown comment, earning an even more bewildered expression out of Yuuta.

“Cy,” Yuuta snapped two fingers in front of Cyrus' face. A feeble attempt at garnering his attention once more. “Earth to- Wonderland to Cyrus— you still with me?”

Once again, Cyrus found himself getting lost in the lavender hue of his irises. The way they resembled the smooth pigment of watercolor.

He found his focus… After staring into them for that small, sacrilegious eternity.

“I'm here… I'm fine.”

•❀°─────────°❀•

Cyrus took up messaging Yuuta to avoid getting distracted again.

Not only to just give him the explanations through text — because Yuuta's attention span was about as questionable as Dire Crowley's — but also to just… Blurt out random topics.

It had the disadvantage of silently pissing him off, though.

It wasn't even every 15 minutes anymore, it was every second when Cyrus had something new and random pop up in his mind. And when that happened, he'd tell it to Yuuta even if he didn't respond or express his opinion on it.

Cy ✨

Yuuta

Cy ✨

Did it hurt when u fell?

Yuuta's eye twitched in irritation. What the hell is he on about this time?

Cy ✨

Y'know, when u fell from the stairs that one time I came to visit u

One moment Cyrus was a flirt, the next he just said things that just happened to piss Yuuta off.

And it went on like that for the next. Three. Hours.

Pick-up line after pick-up line, Cyrus cemented himself as even more of an egotistical flirt than Yuuta could ever hope to be.

And some lines weren't exactly… “Family friendly”, at times. Nothing too inappropriate, just stuff that most people wouldn't use as pick-up lines.

Once he got really pissed off, Yuuta just… Snatched Cyrus's phone out of his grasp without even bothering to look at him, in the process.

Cyrus gasped in what could only be described as the energy of an overdramatic theater kid. “Yuuta-! Give my phone ba-”

“Ah ah ah,” Yuuta shook his finger in his face, a cocky grin gracing his unfortunately endearing face. “No can do, Cy. I'm not giving it back yet.”

“It's my phone.”

“I know.”

“You will give it back, Yuuta.”

“I can promise that,” Yuuta's grin transitioned into a smirk. Oh, how Cyrus wished it didn't have the kind of effect on him as it did. “I'll give you your phone back after a while…”

Wildly unnecessary, it was for Yuuta to hold Cyrus’ chin the way he did.

“On two conditions.”

Cyrus scoffed. Whatever the conditions were, he figured it had something to do with the obvious fact that he could've just talked to Yuuta instead of texting him— he was right next to him, after all.

“One,” — he held up one finger — “you continue helping me with my notes.”

That, Cyrus can do. But then Yuuta held up a second finger, and that made him feel slightly uneasy.

“... You actually talk to me in person, instead of distracting yourself on your phone and texting me as some compromise.”

Well then.

Rolling his eyes, Cyrus pulled away from the grip Yuuta had on his chin, hiding away whatever flushed feelings he had from having his face so close to his own.

Regardless of how he felt… He knew that getting too close to Sumeragi Yuuta would be his undoing— to feel so endeared by a man who would only put himself first, had it not been for the circumstances of losing the only person he truly cared about.

A person Cyrus Olympia could never compare himself, to.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「❀」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@cecilebutcher / @twst-stupid-ocs

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights || @abyss-wonderer || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya

[rosietrace]

Midnight Picnic

(Central) Characters Featured: Noriko Dolion, Victoria Shard

↳ { Noriko belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Others mentioned/featured: N/A

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Victoria Shard

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 🍫 — Feeding my muse chocolate 」

Part Two of: 『 Here 』

Synopsis: Perhaps Noriko's more lenient on midnight picnics now that they've experienced one with her.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Noriko is a simp but what else is new, established relationship??, where was I going with the plotline of this thing 💀 it went off track of the original request, Mercie forgive me if this sucks ahh 🙏, somewhat based on ‘The Archer’ by Taylor Swift

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Noriko Dolion was prepared at every hour of every day.

No matter what anyone thought of them, none could deny how formidable Noriko was at getting things done. Especially on behalf of others.

A man so formidable that it's seemingly impossible to turn him off kilter.

Almost.

When you're someone like Victoria Shard, you're able to do that rather easily. With how enamored Noriko was with the woman, it was no surprise that she had them wrapped around her finger.

A love for a woman that was so strong, it bordered on obsession. To Noriko, Victoria was their everything; their love, their everything, the Goddess that they'd worship at their feet.

Noriko would do anything for Victoria, as will Victoria with Noriko.

But to say Noriko wasn't caught off guard upon receiving a letter from Victoria at the earliest of mornings, was an understatement.

Now, to be clear: as bewildered as they might've felt, that didn't necessarily prevent Noriko from preparing themselves and readily sneaking out of Heartslabyul at her bequest.

They met with Victoria at the entrance of Pomefiore. With a ghost-like, gleaming smile on her face, Victoria guided Noriko deep into the forests of her dormitory.

“I never pegged you to do something like this, My Lady,” Noriko cautiously crossed the forest, hoping that his words didn't offend Victoria.

How fortunate that she chuckled in reply. “Well, it's better to expect the unexpected, don't you think, Nori?”

“How correct of you, My Lady. Forgive me for doubting your judgment.”

“You need not apologize, Nori,” with a picnic basket in her hands, Victoria turned to face the knight behind her and amusingly tapped the tip of their nose.

Noriko felt their face burn from embarrassment but quickly shook it away so as to avoid making a fool of themselves.

Their sword remained in its hilt, readily available when certain precautions needed to be met. In the face of danger, Noriko would fight for Victoria — ambitious, cunning Victoria — until their last dying breath.

As their softened set of ambers glowed in the darkness, Noriko eyed the basket in curiosity.

“If I may ask, My Lady,” they caught up to her, their hands behind their back in a militaristic form, “why are you bringing a picnic basket around?”

She did very little to mask her amusement at Noriko's question. “You'll see, Nori.”

They were going to ask what she meant by that, but words fell short as Victoria guided them to her desired destination — releasing a small giggle at how Noriko's jaw went slack.

At what seemed to be in the more hidden parts of Pomefiore's forests, lived a semi-large lake that reflected the crescents of the moon.

“I….” He gulped, taking a slight step back as he took in their surroundings.

Victoria felt content, her smile slowly becoming less and less hidden under the moonlit sky. “Beautiful, isn't it?”

Now, Noriko's eyes were no longer on the environment that stood before them.

A pair of ambers met a set of sapphires.

“Yes.”

They took a step forward. In every way that mattered, there was never a moment where they weren't utterly breathless for her.

“Beautiful, indeed.”

•♢°─────────°♢•

They settled underneath a tree, setting up their midnight picnic there due in part to Noriko's slight paranoia that it could potentially rain.

Victoria indulged in chocolate-covered strawberries, releasing a grunt of satisfaction at the way the flavor melted against her tongue.

She looked at Noriko, and placed a strawberry onto their hand, as well. “Go on, Nori.”

“Oh, My Lady, I could ne-”

“I insist, Nori.”

Well, they certainly couldn't argue with that.

They thought about Victoria a lot. Maybe to the point, it started becoming borderline concerning.

A certain Octavinelle student would've absolutely made fun of them for sneaking out so early in the morning to spend time with Victoria.

They were hopeless. They were at Victoria's mercy, and they wouldn't have it any other way. They wouldn't want it any other way.

“... I'm sorry.”

His head whipped to look at her, stiffening at the unexpected apology. One that didn't feel quite warranted. “My Lady-?”

“I'm sorry,” Victoria reiterated, “for making you do this for me.”

Sneaking out. The picnic. The risk of breaking the rules for her.

A regretful form of a smile graced her bearings. “In all honesty, I have a lot to apologize for, Nori. More specifically, I have a lot to apologize to you.”

“My Lady.”

She was but an archer, a hunter having to bring animals to an untimely demise for survival. Because if she doesn't, she'll simply starve.

And Noriko wouldn't allow her to starve. Not her, never her. Anyone else, perhaps so if their actions warranted such punishment — but never Victoria.

They would gladly become her prey.

They pulled her close, holding onto her as an act of assurance. That they weren't going anywhere, so long as she allowed them to stay by her side.

That was all they asked of her. Victoria didn't need to like them, she didn't even need to love Noriko the way they loved her; All they asked was that they stay by her side.

As thanks for everything she's done.

“You are by no means perfect,” Noriko had to learn that fact the hard way, being the knight that worshiped the ground Victoria walked on. “But that seldom diminishes what truly makes you so worth all the risk.”

Noriko leaned against the base of a tree, looking up at the moonlit sky with Victoria in his arms. A moment that felt like it had been repeated lifetimes upon lifetimes over.

“I care not for what others think of you, My Lady,” they raked a hand through Victoria's hair. If they were to be teased to a never-ending embarrassment, then so be it.

“I care for what you think of yourself.”

Victoria said nothing about that. About the way, Noriko held her so gently, so lovingly.

Holding her in a way she didn't want to believe she deserved.

All Victoria could bring herself to do was lock her Knight into an embrace that would last until sunrise.

“Nori,” her voice turned hushed, akin to a child. “Don't leave.”

“Don't leave me.”

His heart ached from hearing that. That pain only turned all the more agonizing from how subtly her voice cracked.

Noriko held her closer, firmer. Pressing a kiss so subtle that Victoria would hopefully never feel it against the top of her head. Their gentleness never dared waver. Not around her.

Never around her.

“I could never bring myself to do that, Victoria.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz

[rosietrace]

String of Fate

(Central) Characters Featured: Melanie Charmant, Victoria Shard

↳ { Melanie belongs to @/twsted-princess }

Others mentioned/featured: Malleus Draconia, Sumeragi Yuuta

Pairing(s): One-sided! Melanie & Victoria || Victoria Shard & Malleus Draconia

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Non-requested Oneshot! 「💐 — “Giving My muse a bouquet of flowers” 」

Synopsis: She loved, truthfully. So obvious in the way she presented it, it was almost humiliating. And yet, she was not obvious enough.

Warning(s): Angst. Lots of angst, established relationship (Malleutoria), unrequited love, lots of one-sided pining, one Yuuta mention but that's it, potentially ooc, Melanie is NOT having a good time, the string of fate isn't mentioned until the end ☠️

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Melanie still didn't understand why she even bothered.

Staring from — what she could assume — was a safe distance, Melanie saw it all. The way he looked at her, the way she looked back at him.

The love that the two of them shared, insatiable in every way imaginable.

And all because, Melanie felt her breath hitch, eyes nearing the brink of watering from watching. I had been a coward.

Cowardly, indeed. Melanie had her chances— oh so many of them squandered.

Victoria had always been there, right in front of her. So many chances to make her love more pronounced, more… Obvious. At any given moment, Melanie could've done so much.

She could've told Victoria how much she adored her. How much she would’ve worshiped the ground she walked on— her wit, her ambitious nature, anything.

But she didn't.

Malleus brought his arms around Victoria's waist, his head buried into the crook of her shoulder.

He must've been pressing a soft kiss against the bare skin, as Melanie had stolen a glance at Victoria's reaction.

She might've been at a considerable distance, but she was close enough to hear Victoria exclaim, “Malleus!” in amusement.

From the looks of it, Malleus gave her a playful apology in jest, bringing his lips to hers. Victoria accepted, her arms soon hooked around his neck to pull him closer to her.

Melanie left, then and there. It would've only hurt her more to witness more of that, and she knew better than to eavesdrop on the romantic escapades of her peers.

She shed a single tear. They always kept coming even during the hours where she shouldn't have been.

“Oh dear,” Melanie sniffled, wiping away her tears with the pad of her thumb. Choked sob after choked sob, Melanie wanted— no, needed, to stay strong.

If not for herself, for it to remain certain that Victoria would be happy. That she wouldn't need to worry about her.

Melanie opened the doors of Ramshackle. Given the silence, she assumed Yuuta had left for the botanical gardens; Busy tending to his plants.

“Move on,” he'd told her once, bringing her into a warm hug of attempted consolation, “it isn't good for you to remain so hung up on her. It hurts, Mel, I know that, but… You need to pick yourself back up if you want to move on from her.”

She'd agreed with him. “I… I know, Yuuta,” she'd leaned into his enveloped arms, allowing the tears to stream down her cheeks and inevitably stain Yuuta's shirt.

He worried less about that and more about her well-being. And for that, Melanie knew Yuuta wasn't as egocentric as he presented himself to be.

Lighting a flame in the fireplace, Melanie sat down on the rug. It was early spring, but there remained a chilly atmosphere; And with Ramshackle’s heaters in need of repair, her only option was to warm up manually.

Looking down at the pretty little trinket around her neck, Melanie sighed to herself. “It was supposed to be hers…”

The necklace, she meant. A sweet, endearing little charm of rose gold with a small hydrangea accessory as the centerpiece— Victoria's favorite flower.

“I…” she wanted to let it all out, to let the feelings flow. But even in the comfort of what was essentially her new ‘home’, Melanie couldn't bring herself to do so.

“I… I just…”

Her hair fell over her face, the warmth of the fire in front of her being the only source of comfort.

“... I'm but a moth to a flame, aren't I?”

•♢°─────────°♢•

“Child of man.”

Melanie flinched, nearly dropping the textbooks in her hand when hearing the ominous sound of Malleus' voice behind her.

She chuckled awkwardly, giving the prince a polite wave. “H-Hi, Tsunotaro…”

Malleus' head tilted to an angle, a visible expression of concern on his face. In particular, his eyes.

Emeralds, Melanie always used the green gemstone to describe Malleus' eyes. Emeralds that she so adores, now…

“W-What.. What brings you here? I mean- I'm not upset, it's just- I would've thought you'd be attending classes, now…”

“We have a few minutes to spare,” Malleus began walking along the campus halls beside Melanie. “I don't see why we can't promenade every once in a while.”

That would've been comforting, frankly, it almost felt like a good idea— had it not been for the fact that Malleus was now in a relationship with the girl Melanie had been pining for.

But just because he was, didn't mean Melanie would be uncourteous to deny Malleus of his request.

“I'd like that,” Melanie's smile was genuine if not very, very awkward.

Their ‘promenade’ was everything but conversational. Malleus had done his best by trying to engage in some conversation with Melanie, to pass the time they still had before they headed off to their respective classes.

Yet Melanie remained ever silent. She didn't mean to be rude, but…

I can't help but feel uneasy. She shouldn't have felt that way, not with someone she considered a friend.

Malleus pursed his lips, his hands behind his back in a practiced militaristic stance as they walked. Fit for a prince and future King, Melanie gathered.

It was only then did Malleus finally drew his eyes to the basket slung over Melanie's arm, containing a bouquet of flowers she'd picked herself.

“That bouquet,” Malleus noted, stopping in his tracks. “Quite a lovely choice. Hydrangeas.”

Melanie nodded curtly. “Yes… From what I hear, they represent appreciation in being understood.”

“That they do. Quite well versed in the language of flowers, you are, Child of Man.”

“W-Well, I've done my research!... Haha…”

“Is it for anyone in particular?”

Melanie's eyes widened like saucers, freezing in place. Feeling too stunned to process that her neck hurt from having to look up at Malleus to look at him in the eye.

“W-What?”

Malleus motioned his hand to the bouquet in the well-woven basket. “The bouquet. Is it a gift for someone?”

“... You could say that.” It is a gift for your lover.

Her response brought a smile to Malleus' lips. It made Melanie feel guilty for even thinking about giving Victoria a bouquet.

His smile was soft and sweet, and it was almost bewildering to see it on his face. “How lovely. Whoever for?”

That was a question Melanie didn't want to answer. While she was aware that Malleus could pass her gift to Victoria as a declaration of friendship… The slight guilt in continuing to pine for her — Malleus' now girlfriend — continued to sting at her sides.

And so, she didn't. “... How is she?” Melanie changed the topic as swiftly as she could, hoping Malleus wouldn't be skeptical. “V-Victoria, I mean. How is she?”

That smile on Malleus' lips? It had widened in its size, softening at the very mention of the woman he once detested, now loved.

“She is…” Malleus looked up, and a sigh of contentment exhaled from his lips. “... She is everything to me.”

She knew. Because she, too, knew what it was like to love someone like Victoria Shard.

To love her in a way that destroyed one from within.

•♢°─────────°♢•

Victoria paused, towering over Melanie with what could only be described as a strangely endearing look of perplexity.

Melanie's smile always seemed to be less nervous around Victoria. Or maybe that was what she wanted to believe, considering how she felt the numbness of her hands cloud her mind.

Victoria's arms folded across her chest, eyeing the bouquet of hydrangeas that weren't well hidden behind Melanie's back.

“Are those… For me?”

“E-Erm…” Melanie gulped. Why on earth did she still pine for this woman? And why was it so easy to get nervous around her??

“Melanie.” Victoria narrowed her eyes. “Are you quite alright? You appear parched… No, you look… Anxious.”

Why couldn't I be? Melanie asked from the safety of her mind. It's you. Why wouldn't I feel anxious?

It was both a good and bad thing for Melanie to feel anxious around Victoria. Though most of the positives were overshadowed by the negatives.

One of those negatives being: that Victoria wasn't someone Melanie could love in that way.

She had Malleus. Strange as it was, their relationship was so stable. So sweet in ways the couples born from fairytales pale in comparison.

“These… These are for you.”

Finally, Melanie revealed the bouquet at its full display of beauty.

She could've sworn she heard Victoria gasp. “Hydrangeas…”

Melanie watched as Victoria took the bouquet in her hands, one of those hands gently caressing the petals with an unlikely gentleness she never got to see from her all that often.

The barest glimpse of a smile graced her face. “They're lovely.” And so was she, Melanie must've thought— going deathly still once Victoria's hand made its way to the top of her head.

“I appreciate the sentiment of the gift, Melanie. And I shall treasure it, and you, greatly.”

An act of friendship, Victoria assumed it to be. But to Melanie, it was her way of finally growing a spine by trying to let go. To see Victoria Shard as nothing more than a friend.

That there wasn’t a single occasion where she felt a string tug on her fingertips; Only for it to eventually snap away.

Victoria wasn't hers. She never was. And maybe that was for the best.

Melanie's smile brightened. Looking up at Victoria, she never felt any more glad that it was too cold for her tears to be seen.

Better for her to believe it was a declaration of our friendship than a final proclamation of love.

Victoria was a flame, and Melanie was a moth that couldn't help but want to draw closer; Even if it ended up hurting her, in the long-run.

“... You're welcome, Victoria.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@twsted-princess

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer ||

[rosietrace]

Stars around my scars

Characters Featured: Victoria Shard, Heartslabyul! Noriko Dolion(@terrovaniadorm)

Mentioned: Elara Cessair(also by @/terrovaniadorm)

Pairing(s): Heartslabyul! Noriko & Victoria

Synopsis: Noriko lost someone once. And even in a dream, they weren't going to bring themselves to lose her too.

Warning(s): Pure self-indulgence, ✨angst✨, character death (in a dream), mentions of blood, Etteilla spoilers(?), like... One reference to Noriko's backstory, I listened to too much Taylor Swift and this is what happens /j, potentially ooc

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

It was all… A void. A void that Noriko couldn't seem to escape from.

No matter where they ran, who they called out to — No one.

It felt isolating. So quiet, so… Odd.

With their sword in hand, Noriko wandered this endless void; Hell, they couldn't tell if they even went far at all, or if they were in an endless loop.

They took in their surroundings — or lack thereof — and spun 360°. Trying to see if they missed anything.

A landmark, a path, a person. Anything to try and escape this loop.

But then Noriko saw it. Saw her.

Victoria stood a long distance away from him, her back facing him with her hands tucked behind her.

Feelings of relief and worry filled Noriko's veins as they made their way to the woman in less than a heartbeat.

“My Lady!” Called out Noriko, “My Lady, are you hurt?!”

Victoria turned her head to look at him, lips parted, eyes cat-like and sharp. He noted that they were both in their dorm uniforms.

Noriko brought their arms around her as soon as they got close enough to touch her. A relieved look filled their eyes, just as much as worry did.

“My Lady…”

“Nori,” Victoria's hand brought itself to the side of Noriko's face. “Why are you here?...”

“The better question, my Lady, is why we're here.”

Noriko let out a breath, keeping Victoria close to their chest. She could feel it, their heartbeat. Beating with each passing second.

Victoria's arms wrapped around Noriko's frame not long after. And for a moment, Noriko felt…. Content. Protected.

Safe.

But the smell of iron filling his nostrils had soon dissipated that peace.

Noriko's eyes shot open, widening in size when they saw the large stain of blood on their abdomen.

On Victoria's abdomen, and the gaping hole that went through it.

A strangled sound left Noriko's mouth, one filled with devastation. With an unfiltered, potent need to protect her from a force he probably couldn't protect her from.

Victoria nearly fell. And when worst came to worst, it was — and always will be — Noriko to catch her in those moments.

Those moments where she'd fall.

“My Lady,” he brought his hands to her cheek. “M-My Lady…. My Lady…!”

Blood dripped down on the dark void of ground beneath them, the dark red substance trickling down her half-parted lips.

Her eyes, once filled with life, with a sapphire hue Noriko had put to complete memory — were so hollow. So lifeless.

Victoria tried. She tried to bring her hand to the side of their face.

Her hands, Noriko couldn't bear to feel the lack of warmth emitting from them just as much as they couldn't bear not being able to intertwine his hands with hers.. Cold as ice.

There it was again. That grieving, strangling sound of frustration that continued to leave their mouth.

They cried out to her, screamed at her. Hoping that, if they were pathetic enough — if they begged a God that never truly existed — the universe would bring her back.

That he'd be able to have her in his arms and it wouldn't come to this.

It's happening again, Noriko's thoughts turned frantic. Uncontrolled. It happened with Talia, it's happening to her…

Noriko made dozens of feeble attempts to wake Victoria of this nightmare.

Shaking her by her shoulders, calling out her name in hopes she could hear; And having enough desperation within themselves to bring their lips to hers.

As if, for just a moment, True Love's kiss was the answer.

But it wasn't. Reality was cruel, and it always will be, stripping away at one's joy until they have nothing left.

It must've felt like hours, holding her bloodied corpse in their arms for that small eternity. All the while tears streamed down their face and fell down her unmoving porcelain cheeks.

She felt so cold.

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

Noriko jolted awake, body trembling to the point they had to sit themselves up to compose themselves.

Their movements were similar to how they were in the dream. Frantic, panicked.

Their eyes darted around the room. They knew where they were, they knew every nook and cranny of their room like the back of their hand.

But none of it seemed to reassure Noriko that this wasn't just another part of that… That- Nightmare.

“Nori.”

But then Noriko heard her voice, and the world seemed to bring them back into a comforting embrace. A reality, a life, that they'd want to live over, and over again.

Before they could even process anything else, Victoria took her hands in his.

“Nori,” she let one of her hands move up to their cheek. “Are you alright?...”

He wasn't. She knew he wasn't. But they both knew she only asked the question to hear them answer it from their lips.

“Victoria…” Noriko's eyes were filled to the brim with relief.

She flinched a bit when they brought their arms around her frame and embraced her. But Victoria dared not complain.

She withdrew a breath, allowing that part of herself to reciprocate Noriko's embrace to try and bring comfort to them in that moment.

Noriko withdrew a breath as well. Multiple breaths. They let themselves bury their face into the crook of Victoria's shoulder. If they felt embarrassed about the action, they didn't dare show it.

“You're not okay,” Victoria was certain.

“I…. I am,” Noriko tried to argue, “I'm fine.”

“You're not.”

“But I am, My Lady.”

“Nori, you clearly aren't-”

“My Lady, I'm fine,” The tone that came from Noriko's voice was filled with a desperate, silent plea like it was ripped right out of their chest; As if the one thing in that mind of theirs was to just convince Victoria — brilliant, analytical woman that she was — that they were okay.

The look in her eyes nearly undid him.

So soft. So endearing. So…. Beautiful.

Sapphire hues looked at him so intently, and a shiver cast down Noriko's spine. Why was she-?

A kiss. Not particularly one on the lips, but one on the forehead.

And another one on both temples. Another on their cheeks.

And another. And another.

Noriko's face burned a deep crimson. “M-My Lady-”

“Shhh,” Victoria pressed her lips against the edge of Noriko's jaw. “Tell me what happened.”

“My Lady, I don't quite follow.”

“In that dream,” she took the tension currently on their body as a sign. “Tell me.”

“I…” Noriko's lips pursed. They looked down at their hands, still shaking, ever so slightly. “... I don't know if I can.”

“You can, Nori.”

She adjusted herself a bit, now leaning against the headboard and gently massaging Noriko's shoulders to remove any excess tension.

“You can,” her tone was neither stern nor demanding. “And you will.”

…. She knows me too well, Noriko closed his eyes, taking a breath and permitting oxygen to fill his lungs. Perhaps too well.

Whatever Victoria asked of him, whatever she seemed to demand from him; Noriko would do it without question.

“It was less a dream,” Noriko leaned into Victoria's arms, eyes fluttering and closing. “And more a nightmare.”

All Victoria had to respond to that was a hum.

Noriko continued after a couple of deep breaths. They told her everything they could recall, in as much detail as they could muster up.

That void of emptiness. Her, standing so close, yet so far.

“Blood,” Noriko's breath hitched, and they held onto one of her hands for dear life. “So… So much blood..”

Victoria's eyes fluttered, and just like before, she pressed a gentle kiss on Noriko's forehead.

At the very least, Noriko felt less flustered and more… Content.

“It's gone now,” with one hand intertwined with theirs, she used her free hand to rake through his long blue locks. “It's all over now.”

“I'm here, Nori… Always.”

“I know, My Lady.”

“... Remember that.”

Noriko's eyes opened slightly, looking up at her with an admiration Elara always mocked them for. “Remember what?” They questioned.

That was when that signature ghost-like smile soon became clearer on Victoria's face. She didn't answer verbally, rather, she brought the back of his hand to her lips and placed one or two kisses upon it.

Noriko chuckled. Embarrassed as they must've felt, they also clasped at this moment like it was the last thing they'd ever do.

“I don't deserve you.” They told her after a few, sullen moments.

Victoria frowned a bit. “Don't say that,” she said.

“It's true,” Noriko insisted. “I don't. You're too….”

She arched a brow, and all they could muster was the barest hint of a smile. “You've done so much for me,” Noriko mumbled.

“My scars,” they looked up at the ceiling. “You saw them — accepted them — and turned them into something beautiful.

“You drew Stars around them.”

“They were already beautiful,” Victoria argued, pulling him closer. “I didn't do much with them.”

“But you did.”

“Did I?” Her smile turned into a slight grin. “Your scars… They aren't a burden to bear.”

“They are a symbol of the honor you carry. And I wouldn't have it any other way.”

If Victoria's bearings could get any softer, they certainly started to. “Take my hand,” she had the both of them lie down, face to face.

“Take my hand, and don't drop it.”

“I could never,” Noriko's words were nothing short of a promise. They leaned into her hold, letting her bring them into an embrace they'd wished would last an eternity.

But, sometimes…

“... I'm sorry,” Noriko breathed softly against the crook of her neck.

For their devotion. For being the way they were.

For being so weak in front of her. How could they protect the woman they held dear with an emotional state quite like theirs?

Such words with silent questions only made Victoria seemingly pull them so much closer to her, and she pressed one last kiss atop their head.

“You don't need to apologize, Nori.

“You never have to, anymore.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

「 This Oneshot is part of a list of oneshots that will be released prior to the 2024 Valentine's Event — which will be released on February 14th 」

•♡°─────────°♡•

Taglist

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

Written For

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@twsted-princess || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya || @geminiiviolets

[rosietrace]

OMGEE HAIIII, how are you ?

For the Valentine's ask, I thought funny scenes would be cool... so please can I request:

Davis visiting Pomefiore to see Marsyas, but he can't find them because they're in their Cybele form. And maybe, Cybele tries to convince him Marsyas isn't around and that maybe he should wait another day ?

I'm sorry if it feels too specific, feel free to change so stuff if you want !

THIS WOULD BE HILARIOUS OMG

(Dw about it being too specific, I love the idea!!)

A Visitor

(Central) Characters Featured: Davidson Novellion, Marsyas/Cybele Galehault

↳ { Marsyas/Cybele belongs to @/valse-mille-temps }

Others mentioned/featured: Lancelot Novellion, Vil Schoenheit, Rook Hunt, Victoria Shard

Pairing: Davidson Novellion & Marsyas/Cybele Galehault

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 Specified Request 」

Synopsis: Sorry- How is Davis supposed to find Marsyas if they're seemingly nowhere to be found? Well, at least he found some stranger to interact with for a bit.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Davis is his own warning /hj

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⚔️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“Lance, be honest with me: Would Marsyas prefer ink black or coal black?”

Lance sat at the edge of his older brother's bed, reading a book to study for his upcoming alchemy exam.

Frowning, Davis snapped his fingers in Lance's face. “Lance,” the prince flicked his younger brother's forehead for good measure. “Focus.”

“I am focusing.”

“Not what I meant.”

“Just ask Marsyas what they'd prefer.”

“It's not that simple, Lance!” Davis groaned, holding up two hangers with two imperial military coats hanging on them.

Rolling their eyes, Lance looked up from his book and got a good look at the coats individually.

“Good,” Davis hummed in his satisfaction. “Now, what do you think she'd prefer?”

Why Davis was being so concerned over a coat was beyond Lance's understanding. To the latter, both coats were the same with only a slight difference in color texture.

“Davis, they're both the same-” Lance stopped mid-sentence, scrunching his nose at Davis' scowl.

“You know I'm right.”

“You really aren't, little brother.”

“Look,” Lance let out an exasperated breath. “If you're so concerned, just ask Marsyas. Although, if you ask me, it's not like they'd enjoy spending time with you to begin with.”

Davis scoffed, choosing a coat himself and throwing the other one back into his closet. “You're just saying that because you don't know them like I do!”

“I know him well enough to know that they don't trust you that much. Why are you even bothering to visit him, to begin with?”

Lance has seen a lot of things in his life. His brother had the most unusual hobbies, and the most questionable methods in taking care of his brother. All that, Lance was already used to.

What Lancelot Winchester Novellion was not used to, was seeing Davis be so concerned over how Marsyas thought of him.

If it were Victoria, sure, Lance tilted his head as Davis was taking a comically long time fixing his hair. But he's only concerned over rivals.

Marsyas wasn't someone Davis could consider a rival.

That fact just… Baffled Lance so much more than it needed to.

Either way, Davis made it clear that he didn't want Lance meddling in his business. And with how his older brother usually is, Lance thought it better than to question what goes on in Davis' mind.

After his meticulous hair care routine, Davis turned back to his brother. “Well?” He presented himself to Lance.

“What do you think?”

Lance took one look, then went back to his book. “You look the same.”

“I do not!”

“Tell that to yourself, if it helps you sleep at night.”

“You're quite a nuisance, sometimes…”

Anything else Davis said became a blur to Lance.

Lance highly doubted that, only shrugging his shoulders in response. It wasn't like Davis' love life was much of his business to begin with.

Plus, he doubted his older brother even told Marsyas — whoever they were — that he was visiting.

•⚔️°─────────°⚔️•

When Davis finally arrived at Night Raven College, his top priority was to look for Marsyas. Nothing else.

Any ass-kissing from Dire Crowley? Promptly ignored. Any unwanted attention, he stopped with only the tip of the sword currently hanging from its hilt.

Most of the students just assumed Davis was there for diplomatic reasons, but he didn't bother answering their questions because they didn't matter.

He was in the school looking for Marsyas, not to make pleasant chit-chat with imperial ass-kissers.

This was not a good thing. Especially to Marsyas themselves.

At the moment, they were currently in their true form ‘Cybele’: A form that, fortunately, Davis had yet to properly know them as.

Unfortunately, Cybele thought to herself while walking through the different corridors of Pomefiore, trying to distract herself with little success. That prince won't stop at nothing to find me.

Any concerns from Vil, Rook, Victoria, or anyone — completely out of the question.

His constant correspondence isn't of any help, either, Cybele thought, pursing their lips.

One thing Cybele knew was that she was going to get herself out of Pomefiore and… Hopefully, avoid Davis the rest of the day.

That plan failed. Miserably. It drove itself off a cliff.

Why? Well, much to Cybele's chagrin, she just happened to run into Davis on her way out of Pomefiore.

They both stopped in their tracks in front of each other, staring intently into each other's eyes.

Davis into Cybele's light brown set. Cybele into Davis' amber set.

“... Apologies,” Cybele tried to make her way past Davis, but the latter had to unsheath his sword, using it to block their path.

Davis hummed. “I would also like to apologize for blocking your path,” he lowered his sword. “If I may ask, do you happen to know where Marsyas could be?”

They're standing right in front of you, Cybele answered his question in her own thoughts but didn't dare say it aloud.

Clearing their throat, Cybele composed herself, bringing back that elegant and poised demeanor that Vil always insisted on having her maintain. “I'm afraid not.”

Davis arched a skeptical brow. “Are you sure?”

“Positive, Your Highness.”

“So you know who I am?”

“I certainly know of you. Who wouldn't?”

He clicked his tongue, not quite finding pleasantry in the way Cybele said that. How meticulous, he must've thought.

“Are you quite sure you know where Marsyas is?” Davis continued with his inquiries, cocking his head to the side.

“I have no reason to doubt my sureness,” Cybele's eyes squinted, taking a slight — ever so subtle — step back from Davis.

He responded to that by taking a slight step forward. “Then why do you appear… Anxious?”

“Do I? Pray tell, why would you accuse me of that?”

“You're rather expressive,” Davis put his sword back into its sheath, his hands now behind his back in a militaristic stance.

I have reason to doubt that, Cybele remarked in her own thoughts.

Akin to her squinted set of eyes, Davis narrowed his own. Tilting his head to the other side, feeling curious.

“I've never seen you before.”

Cybele hummed, avoiding his intent gaze, maintaining her poise. “This is the first time we've interacted, your highness. I have reason to believe you've never seen me once in your entire life.”

“Not quite what I meant,” Davis interrupted. “But I do suppose you make your point.”

“But what I mean, is that I've never seen you during my previous visits.”

His previous visits were as tedious as his current one, Cybele believed. But she was wise enough to not say that to Davis' face.

“Your previous visits?” It was her turn to ask, this time, feigning cluelessness.

She couldn't get a read on Davis' expression of neutrality, but she could at least hope he was buying into her act.

“I've been visiting someone I hold dear to,” Davis elaborated. “He’s quite special to me, really. But I can never understand why they're so… Avoidant.”

“Perhaps they don't trust you?” Cybele didn't intend to say it aloud. But when they did, she tried not to show how anxious she felt about how Davis would respond to that.

“.... Perhaps, so.”

It was Davis' turn to step back, bowing his head in respect, acknowledgment, and apology to Cybele.

She held her head up high, her eyes on the sky above to hide the relief that resided in them.

“Forgive me for wasting your time, My Lady.”

Cybele pursed her lips. “... You need not heed an apology for my sake, Your Highness.”

Davis' lips quirked up to form a smirk. With his hands still behind his back, he only took one of them out to gently hold Cybele by the back of her head, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Cybele stiffened, unsurprisingly pulling away from Davis' unexpected touch with an apprehensive yet… Intrigued look.

“What…” She paused, trying to find her words before clearing her throat to compose herself further. “What was that for, Your Highness?”

“Something I might like to do if we ever go beyond acquaintances, My Lady.”

Before Cybele could even begin to ask questions, Davis turned his back on her — finally making his way out of Pomefiore, and Night Raven College, in turn.

Right when he was to be transported out of Pomefiore, Davis gave Cybele one last look. One of amusement, of endearment. And said:

“Until we meet again, Marsyas.”

… What?

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⚔️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

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Written for

@valse-a-mille-temps

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🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

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「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @hallowed-delights / @terrovaniadorm || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer

[ Please notify me if you want to join the Taglist! ]

[rosietrace]

You thought it was over? Ha

Guess who’s back Pookie!

May I request Roywen with a Cinderella au! Specifically the scene at the ball with “So this is Love”

Hope this request makes sense and happy Valentine’s Day!

HELLAUR ELLRIZZ!! I'm gonna have so much fun writing this omgg 😈😈 (Your ask for Porter and Molly will be in the works a little later!)

'C'est ça l'amour [ 1/2 ]

(Central) Characters Featured: Roya Callistis, Gwendolyn Schnee

↳ { Gwendolyn belongs to @/starry-night-rose }

Others mentioned/featured: Tinsley LaBelle, Rubina Callistis, Davidson Novellion

↳ { Tinsley belongs to @/jasdiary }

Pairing: Roya Callistis & Gwendolyn Schnee

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: AU Oneshot! 「 Cinderella 」

Synopsis: So this is love? So this is what makes life divine.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, loosely inspired by the Disney 1950/2015 adaptations, Rubina and Davis /j /j, two-parter!, surprisingly longer than I thought holy shit

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「🗡️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

His Highness Roya Callistis was bored beyond belief.

There he sat, in his elaborately decorated throne, one that once belonged to his Father; And will inevitably become his when he finds himself a bride.

The only problem? Finding a bride in a sea of young noblewomen proved to be predictably difficult. And tedious.

As another potential suitor had announced their presence to him, Roya could only sit there in awkward silence. Only giving the pitiful young ladies of the night a nod of acknowledgment.

This predicament, in turn, happened to bring a sense of irritation upon his dear Mother — Queen Rubina.

“What in God's name is he doing?” Rubina hissed, watching her only son from a considerable distance.

Davis, Roya's cousin, stood by her side with a condescending smile. “I'm sure my dear cousin will find someone, Auntie.”

Rubina's hardened gaze softened at Davis' assurance. “Oh, you may have a point, dear nephew…”

Davis hummed, his expression going nonchalant. He was always Rubina's favorite.

“I can't help but feel concerned, however.”

“And rightfully so, Auntie.”

“I am only asking this from Roya for the sake of our Kingdom..”

“And for that, I admire your benevolence,” Davis and his ass-kissing ways. “I, too, feel concerned for my cousin.”

Rubina sighed, gently ruffling Davis' dark hair. “What would I do without you, Davis?”

Davis feigned a smile. A handsome, tenaciously deceitful, smile.

“Oh, I can't bring myself to imagine that… Auntie.”

•✒️°─────────°✒️•

Gwen couldn't find the right words to describe the ambitious architecture of the palace, only parting her lips to silently gawk at all of its glory.

How stunning, Gwen thought, smiling to herself. I'll be sure to try and enjoy myself tonight…

… I only have until midnight to do so, her smile faltered at that.

Tonight, a ball fit for a princess was the one night where Gwen could look at herself — at the scenery before her — and think: I'm free.

Walking up the steps of the foyer, a couple of palace guards couldn't help themselves and happened to catch a glance at her every now and again.

Truly, everything that surrounded her was a marvel. The pinnacle of extravagance that she always believed would be reserved for her step-family.

Speaking of her step-family, Gwen managed to catch a glimpse of them once she found her way to the ballroom.

Her stepmother wore silks of dark red, obscuring her face with an ornately designed fan. Gwen's stepsisters were in the farther distance, making their way to the prince — whom Gwen couldn't get a proper look at.

Tinsley wore dark green, with hints of black and gold expertly placed along the bodice of her gown in the shape of vines.

Her other stepsister — who wasn't sure if she had an actual name — wore red, with a similar pattern to Tinsley at the bodice of her gown.

Seems like my stepsister opted to match with stepmother… Gwen hummed to herself, carefully walking around the ballroom in her unusually comfortable glass slippers to avoid catching her stepfamily's gaze.

Unfortunately, in spite of her efforts, Gwen ended up catching the eye of her stepmother.

Skeptical at the mysterious young lady that felt oddly familiar, her stepmother readily approached, her heels clicking against the floor.

Gwen winced, turning her body in the opposite direction to make an escape.

When suddenly: A hand gently yet firmly grasped her own.

Gwen looked behind her, fixating her eyes on the stranger who caught her hand; Only to realize that the ‘stranger’ in question was no stranger at all.

Pale skin, perhaps rivaling her own. Gray, almost silver, eyes. Horns that he had yet to properly explain. And long dark red locks styled into an elaborate braid that fell from his shoulder.

Roya's eyes softened when their eyes met, and it was as though time had closed its curtains.

“I…” Roya's words came to a standstill, the poor boy didn't know how to make conversation. Especially not with a lady as pretty as Gwen.

Gwen, who recognized him as the boy she met in the forest not too long ago, tilted her head slightly.

“Kit?” Ah, right.

Roya was bemused that Gwen still remembered him from the forest, and was even more than that when it came to him that she didn't realize he was the prince.

“M-My Lady…” Roya cleared his throat, finding a newfound confidence as he gazed into her ice-blue set.

“K-Kit!” Gwen was overjoyed that she found someone other than her step-family whom she recognized at the ball. “I didn't know you'd be here!”

“Yes, well- I am an apprentice, after all.”

“An apprentice for the palace, of course! Oh, forgive my silliness for not realizing it sooner…”

A chuckle left his lips, his free hand finding its way to her cheek. “You are forgiven, My Lady.”

Guilt was what Roya felt, feeling a slight discomfort that he was lying to Gwen about who he really was, even now.

But a part of him — that small, wishful-thinking side of him — wanted it to last a little longer. If it meant spending more time with Gwen, Roya would wear the sin of deceit with pride.

He cleared his throat a second time, taking a step back and letting the hand on her cheek fall to his side.

“If I may be frank, My Lady…”

Roya bowed down before her, his lips mere inches away from the back of Gwen's hand; His eyes piercing through her own.

“Might I have the honor of a dance?”

A gasp fell from her lips, eyes going slightly wide.

“A dance?...” Gwen looked around, and at the very least, her stepmother had already paid more attention to her sisters than anything else. “With… Me?”

Roya smiled at her, adjusting his stance. “With you, yes.”

“Shall we?”

Her eyes flickered between him and the clock behind him.

Very little time… Gwen wanted to frown, but couldn't bring herself to actually do so, lest Roya misunderstood.

But tonight was a night where she was meant to feel free for once. And perhaps dancing with ‘Kit’ was a way of doing that.

Gwen's smile, beautiful and soft in every way that made Roya's heart melt, widened in size when she took her hand in his. Both hands, this time.

“We shall.”

•✒️°─────────°✒️•

Their dance felt like more than a dance. Odd way to put it, yes, but in the eyes of Roya and Gwen: It was like their two souls had intertwined.

And that, with their movements and the way they looked into each other's eyes, caught Queen Rubina's attention.

An eyebrow arched, Rubina's gaze skeptically flickered between her son and the girl he was dancing with.

“Who is she?...”

Davis narrowed his eyes. He's never seen that girl in his life, and his aunt expected him to give her an answer?

“I'm not quite sure, Auntie,” Davis answered as politely as he could, “but unfortunately, it appears I've never seen this girl in my life.”

“Well that's ridiculous,” in likeness to her nephew, Rubina's eyes narrowed.

“... Keep an eye on them.”

She descended further away from the ballroom — likely to make preparations for a potential wedding, Davis gathered.

Still, he followed his Aunt's orders, keeping a close eye on Roya and his dancing partner; In spite of his irritation.

And nobody did Irritation the way Davidson Novellion did.

Whoever that girl was, regardless of personality or status, Davis didn't like her.

As Gwen and Roya danced, it finally occurred to Gwen what was going on around her; They were being watched. Rather intently, at that.

“What…?” Gwen turned to Roya. “They're staring…”

“Well-” Roya sucked in a breath, “that is to be expected, dancing with a palace apprentice.”

“No- No,” Gwen's eyes blinked rapidly, her eyes looking between Roya and the guests behind him.

“Who are you?”

Roya stiffened, spinning her around. His lips pursed, a nervous feeling churning in his stomach.

Should he tell her the truth? If he did, would she see him differently?

He didn't want that. Never in his life would we want that, especially not with her.

To her, he wasn't the crown prince. To her, he was just… Kit. A kind hunter she met one fateful day in the woods, who happened to be ‘some apprentice’.

“Kit?”

Words were flooding his system, trying to force themselves out of his mouth.

“I…”

“Kit. Please.”

Even if he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to resist that look in her eyes, the softness of her melodious voice.

“Tell me who you are,” a beat. “Who you truly are.”

“... Might I request a second dance?”

Roya pulled away, keeping his hands intertwined with hers; A silent plea.

There, sat silence. Time had finally made its grand return, and all eyes were on them, and them alone.

He brought his hand to her cheek. “Please, my lady,” he pleaded with her, his voice desperate and regretful. “Just one more dance.”

Gwen looked him in the eye, finally taking note of all the intricacies of his attire — the kind of intricacies reserved only for royalty.

And it all clicked.

She leaned into his touch. He was one of the only ones in her life that could withstand her ice-cold palms.

She didn't want to lose that.

“I accept.”

•✒️°─────────°✒️•

“Are… Are you mad at me?”

It was lucky for them, to scurry away from the prying eyes of their astute audience in the ballroom — running off to the palace gardens, unchaperoned.

Scandalous, truly. But a thought such as that never once crossed Gwen's mind. As it did not cross Roya's.

“A little,” she admitted to him, walking across a bridge so crystal clear she almost believed it was made of glass.

“A little?” Roya's head tilted. “I… I would've thought you'd be more than upset.”

“I am upset,” Gwen looked up at the night sky, her hand against the bridge’s railings. “But…”

“But?”

“But, I've convinced myself not to be more upset than I need to be. That I have to consider why you'd hide your true status from me.”

A breath caught in Roya's throat when she looked back at him, her figure illuminated by the shining moon.

“Why, Your Highness?”

It hurt to hear her say that. Perhaps it was because he grew so used to her calling him ‘Kit’.

“... I didn't want you to change your perception of me,” he walked to her, standing beside her. He looked down at the water below.

“You were so kind to me when I was Kit. I didn't want to change that.”

“So- That's why you interjected that palace guard from-”

“Yes,” he interrupted her, too. “In all honesty, I have to thank Sir Lancelot for understanding so quickly.”

They stared into each other's eyes. And they — more specifically, Roya — couldn't help but get lost in them.

He straightened himself up. Stepping back from her a little, to give her even the slightest of space.

“Well,” he looked down again, pursing his lips.

Clearing his throat, Roya continued: “You know my true name, now.”

“And I'd love for you to tell me yours, too.”

Just as Gwen was ready to open her lips and give him her name. She heard it. Many things, she heard, actually.

The sound of the clock tower ringing, a reminder of it now being the stroke of twelve; And the words of her Fairy Godmother.

On the stroke of twelve, said the Godmother that small eternity ago, all things shall return to the way they once were.

And Gwen had little to no time to properly respond to Roya.

She had no time to do… Anything.

With the little time left, Gwen made a run for it, her head spinning as she made her escape.

Roya followed suit, but just barely. He called for guards, and could only hope that wouldn't scare her off.

Unfortunately for him, it did.

And there she went, rushing into her carriage and riding off further into the darkness of the night.

He nearly sank to his knees at the sight.

And all Gwen had left for even a sliver of who she was, was a single glass slipper.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「🗡️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@starry-night-rose

—

🥥

@jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @hallowed-delights / @terrovaniadorm || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @abyss-wonderer || @mystery-skulls-ghost ||

†•°•══════ஓ๑「🗡️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

[rosietrace]

❅ I lied I will send you another cause I miss AzureCarol a little

I HAVEN'T DONE THEM IN SO LONG OMG 😭 MY HEART

Snowed in

(Central) Characters Featured: Azure Ekoms, Carol Ann

↳ { Carol belongs to @/fumikoyasaki }

Others mentioned/featured: Sumeragi Yuuta

Pairing: Azure Ekoms & Carol Ann

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 ❅ — Muse cuddling up to my muse on the couch 」

Synopsis: With RSA being completely snowed in, Carol had little choice but to stay a little while longer.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Yuuta mentions, YuuRen is implied but Miren isn't properly mentioned by name, this plotline probably doesn't make much sense but shhh enjoy the fluff, written before Azure's profile revamp

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「📚」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Carol huffed in silent frustration, sitting down on the couch situated in Azure’s dorm room.

“You’re in a rather sour mood,” Azure sat beside her, not looking up from his book. “Then again, I can't exactly blame you.”

“Being snowed in isn't an ideal situation.”

Carol sighed. “Yes… I can only hope Yuuta doesn't cause too much of a ruckus back at Ramshackle.”

Azure hummed, his arm wrapping around her shoulder to bring her closer to his side.

“I'm sure Yuuta won't make too much of a fuss.”

“You're too kind when it comes to saying things like that.”

“I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt,” Azure cracked a small smile, the edges of his lips quirking upwards. “He's nice.”

“When he wants to be,” Carol clarified. “Yuuta's nice when he wants to be.”

“True.”

Azure couldn't deny that fact. Plus, Carol knew Yuuta for longer than he had. It wasn't like he knew the Machiavellian man that well, though.

Carol looked over to the contents of the page Azure was currently reading, tilting her head in intrigue. “New book?”

“Mhm,” Azure nodded, pushing his glasses up. “It's an Author paperback copy, since… Well, I wrote it. I'm just reading it to spot any mistakes.”

Carol smiled slightly. “Could I read with you?”

He could only chuckle, pressing a kiss to the center of her forehead. “Of course,” Azure agreed, going back to the very beginning of the book to reread it.

Carol's eyebrows raised in both surprise and slight guilt. “Oh-” she cleared her throat. “You… Didn't need to do that.”

“Well, too bad, Miss Ann,” Azure was filled with amusement, using the top of his pointer finger to push up Carol's glasses, this time around.

Soon after, he looked down at her with a soft, reassuring look. “Besides, I don't quite mind.”

“You don't?”

“Of course not. Why would I?”

“Well,” Carol paused, drawing in a breath. “You were quite far into the book before I asked to read with you. At most, you were ⅓ of it.”

“And?” Azure arched a brow at her, not really seeing what point she was trying to make.

Not wanting to argue over something so petty, Carol drew out her breath, leaning against him.

She smiled to herself as Azure pulled her somewhat closer, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head.

“Forget what I said.”

•📚°─────────°📚•

“You're quite the observant one, My Dear.”

Carol stifled a laugh, feeling teasingly skeptical whilst looking up at him. It wasn't like she did much, only pointing out several writing errors and plot holes in the book one after the other.

Well- It wasn't much to her, but to him? It meant a lot.

Frankly, Azure felt himself falling in love with her all over again. Knowing her, she'd ask why, but Azure was always much softer, much gentler than Carol; Someone who was both things, but knew when to be stern when need be.

“I don't think I've accomplished much,” Carol mumbled in reply. “As much as I hate to admit it, I believe Yuuta's more observant than me.”

“Oh?” Azure felt a story coming along. One he'd happily listen to from the lips of his girlfriend.

Settling herself in for a moment, Carol began. “Well… He's quite attentive. He notices when I'm feeling particularly stressed, has my favorite food memorized so that he could make it for me while I was sick, and…”

Azure waited patiently, but couldn't resist chiming in with: “And?”

Carol chuckled. “And, he somehow always knows when someone's in the botanical garden. Quite odd, that man is.”

“Perhaps. Is he still seeing that other guy?”

“Oh, very much so. Yuuta likes teasing him, but they're quick to forgive once they're given some concoction involving a lot of spices.”

“Huh,” Azure tried to imagine Yuuta in a scenario like that, but couldn't find himself to properly grasp that idea. “How… Interesting.”

“He gets more interesting the more I learn about him.”

A light scoff fell from Carol's lips. “If by interesting, it's likely you mean discomforting…”

“... But yes,” she allowed some semblance of herself to properly admit it. “I suppose he is, in your words, ‘interesting’.”

“He did bring us together, after all, My Dear.”

“In his own way, at least,” Azure placed his bookmark on the page they were currently on, setting the book down on his lap.

Carol wondered what he was up to, her gaze flickering between his eyes and the book he just put down. What was he up to, she must've thought.

Fortunately, Carol got her answer rather quickly; As Azure cradled her face in his hand, pressing a quick, yet gentle kiss against her forehead again.

Then her nose.

Then, inevitably, her lips. Carol was almost impressed that Azure had enough confidence built into his system to do such a thing.

But she didn't fight it. Hell, she embraced it, letting herself be brought into his arms and smiling softly once her head was on the crook of his neck.

Azure’s soft smile widened a little. He picked up his book and continued where he left off.

Only this time, not long before he reached the book's climax — Carol had rested her eyes, snuggling against the crook of his neck.

Azure looked down at her, carefully taking off her glasses. “You deserve a nap, my dear,” he whispered to her. She wasn't going to hear him, naturally, but some part of him hoped she somehow did.

He gave her one last kiss on the forehead right as he was about to continue — and eventually conclude — reading.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「📚」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@fumikomiyasaki

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @hallowed-delights / @terrovaniadorm || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer

[rosietrace]

Hi Rosie! Happy Valentine’s Day! I’ve come here to request 🍪 with Porter and Molly! hope it’s alright to request this even if she isn’t released yet

Hi Ellis!! Since Molly's already out by the time this request is complete... 😈 I'm gonna be really silly

Warmth and Nostalgia

(Central) Characters Featured: Porter Pierce, Molly Primrose

↳ { Molly belongs to @/starry-night-rose }

Others mentioned/featured: Riddle Rosehearts

Pairing: Porter Pierce & Molly Primrose

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 🍪 — Baking cookies with my muse 」

Synopsis: Porter seeks comfort with Molly, and suggests making cookies… In the middle of the night.

Warning(s): Potentially ooc, Porter /j, lots of fluff dw there isn't any angst (except for Porter /hj), Molly being oblivious to Porter being PAINFULLY obvious

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「✴️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“Molly… Sunshine, rise and shine..”

Porter whispered softly, sitting at the edge of Molly's bed, his eyes softening at the sight of how truly relaxed she looked.

She had a bad day, Porter reminded himself. so it feels a little wrong to do this, but… If it makes her feel better in the end, that's what matters.

As he reminded himself before, Porter believed that what he was doing was… A little wrong. If not very creepy.

Sneaking into someone's bedroom — especially your crush/not-really-your-girlfriend-yet — doesn't usually end well.

Molly stirred, turning to the side, her back facing Porter. “Just five more minutes…”

How adorable. Porter chuckled, placing his hand on her shoulder and carefully. “‘Can't do that, Sunshine. C'mon, you gotta wake up-”

Molly groaned. She then laid on her back, eyes inevitably fluttering open, and saw a silhouette.

At first, she thought it was an intruder. And she wasn't far off! But after realizing who that intruder was, all Molly could do was sit up against the headboard of her bed and scowl.

“Porter,” Molly had an unusual morning voice, the man in question believed. “What are you doing here?.. It's…”

She turned her attention to the clock in her room. “... The middle of the night. ‘s the middle of the night, you shouldn't be here..”

“Sorry Sunshine,” Porter gently patted Molly's cheek, admiring her freckles for a moment before continuing. “Just wanted to spend time with you, that's all.”

Rubbing her eyes and feeling herself become even more awake. “Why me?” She asked him skeptically. It wasn't like they did this all the time.

Porter shrugged, feeling unbothered in giving Molly any explanation on why he chose her, specifically. It wasn't like she needed to know she was his crush.

Gently ruffling her hair, Porter gave Molly a winning smile; One that she grew potent to after hanging out with him a couple dozen times.

“Well?” Molly stood up from her bed, walked to her nightstand to fix her hair, and put on her signature navy blue bow.

Porter chortled. “Well, Sunshine, I wanted to bake cookies.”

“At this hour?”

“At this hour, yes.”

“Housewarden Rosehearts is going to kill you if he finds us in the Kitchen at this hour,” it was barely even an hour since she woke up, and Molly already felt exasperated.

“Not to mention, he's going to scold me, too.”

While she wasn't exactly wrong, Porter looked at the ceiling to avoid rolling his eyes at what Molly had told him.

“Come on, Sunshine, it won't be that bad,” Porter insisted, standing up with a hand on his hip.

Molly gave him a look with a message that said: Are you as sure as you seem to be?

He sighed. Convincing Molly to do stuff with him usually took some persuasion, but it wasn't anything Porter wasn't already used to, by now.

This is gonna take a while.

•✴️°─────────°✴️•

Somehow?... Porter convinced Molly. But given how he woke her up at 12 in the morning, she felt grouchy enough to just drag him down the meticulous stairs.

“I'm blaming you if we get caught,” Molly hissed as she pulled Porter into the kitchen.

Once her grip on his wrist had loosened, Porter took a step back and leaned against the kitchen counter. “That's justified, I guess.”

“We'll just have to be quiet.”

Molly hummed in reply, her back facing Porter once more as she prepped the ingredients to bake the cookies.

His eyebrows raised a little upon witnessing how fast Molly was at preparing everything. Even more so when he suggested help and she just refused, continuing to bake the dough like her life depended on it.

It concerned him, a little. More than a little, if he was feeling honest.

“You sure you're okay doing that on your own, sweetheart?”

“Positive. You can help once I'm done with this.”

Molly's grip on the whisk had tightened, and she shook her head. Desperate in trying to ignore the effect Porter's little ‘nicknames’ had on her.

“This is so…” Molly scrambled through her mind trying to find the right word to describe her situation. “Uncouth.”

Porter couldn't fight back a snort. “Uncouth? Really?”

“Yes,” Molly harrumphed, taking out a package of chocolate chips from the refrigerator.

Porter's eyes gleamed. Unfortunately for him, Molly swatted his hand away when he tried to eat a few.

“Rude much, Sunshine?”

Molly rolled her eyes, this time around. “It's not rude. But I'm not here to waste time, I'm here to do this as quickly as possible so we don't. Get. Caught.”

“It's gonna be fine, trust me on this,” Porter blew out a soft breath.

It's hard to trust you, really, Molly replied. But her words went unsaid.

From time to time, Molly always figured she shouldn't trust Porter too much. She'd heard rumor after rumor, and even when he proved those naysayers wrong, she couldn't help but find apprehension and reluctance every time they hung out.

… And it didn't entirely feel like a bad thing.

And Molly didn't understand why that was the case for them. Why? Why trust him as much as you do when all that happens in the end is trouble?

Molly Primrose couldn't find enough semblance in herself to answer that question.

Porter finally had a chance to help her out. And he did so by sprinkling chocolate chips into the dough. Molly stiffened at their current proximity, keeping still as Porter sprinkled the chocolate chips, his body close to being pressed against her own.

Her expression, her stiffness, the way she stared so intently at nothing. It continued even after they put the cookies in the oven.

He looked over to the shorter girl, wondering if she was okay. Because from the look of her expression, it didn't look like she was.

“Molly?” For once, Porter didn't call her by some silly nickname.

“Uh- Huh-?”

“Molly, are… You okay?”

His voice. So unusually soft when it was always so… Vigorous. Perhaps that wasn't the perfect description for it.

Porter's lips pursed, biting his inner cheek. “I'm… I'm sorry.”

Molly blinked, having to do a complete double-take. “Eh-? Wait, what?”

“I'm sorry.”

“For… For what?”

He would've figured the answer was obvious, by now. Regardless, he answered.

“For forcing you to put up with me,” Porter's voice went uncharacteristically soft. Almost sheepish.

Molly was taken aback. “Forcing me…?”

“I know, I know,” Porter sighed. “I'm obnoxious.”

“Porter—”

“— And annoying—”

“Porter—”

“And just plain troublesome-”

“Porter.”

Molly might've been shorter than Porter was, but that didn't seem to stop her from bringing his face close to hers and cradling it in her hands.

“Porter Pierce,” Molly leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes. A fortunate decision in Porter's eyes, so that she wouldn't notice his flushed face.

“Don't say things like that,” she urged. “While that may be true sometimes- It hurts to hear that from your lips.”

“It hurts to know that that's what you feel about yourself.”

…. He didn't think that about himself. Really, all Porter was doing was expressing what he thought Molly felt.

But it wasn't? How odd.

But that was something for another time. A discussion left for a later morning. One that Porter will probably forget about now that he and Molly are leaning their foreheads against each other.

“... Okay.”

All was what he said. No other words needed.

He pulled away, but not for long. It surprised Molly when Porter wrapped his arms around her for a long-lasting hug.

But she dared not complain. Her now rose-dusted cheeks were hidden as she returned his embrace with a small yet soft smile.

Porter had no manners. He was rude, petty. All that she should've been irritated by.

And yet all that irritation seemed to fade away at the reminder — one that she experienced every day — that he was always there in even her darkest moments.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「✴️」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@starry-night-rose

—

🥥

@jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @mystery-skulls-ghost

[rosietrace]

A moment of Peace

(Central) Characters Featured: Victoria Shard, Noriko Dolion

↳ { Noriko belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Others mentioned/featured: Elara Cessair

↳ { Elara also belongs to @/terrovaniadorm }

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Victoria Shard

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌

↳ Type: Non-requested Oneshot! 「 N/A 」

Synopsis: Moments like the ones they shared behind closed doors were scarce, limited all because of the lives they lived. But when those moments came, they treasured them with all their hearts.

Warning(s): Established relationship, Elara is in every Nororia fic because I said so /j, a simp in the premises, really REALLY fluffy, FLIRTY VIC REAL‼️‼️, potentially ooc

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“I like this.”

“Like what?”

“This,” Victoria motioned to Noriko's face, gently placing a hand over their cheek with the softest of smiles on her face.

Though their face heated up at the sudden display of affection from her, Noriko smiled, leaning into Victoria's touch— their head rested on her lap.

During weekends such as the one they were having at the moment, Victoria and Noriko would switch between each other's dormitories; All so they could spend the rest of the day just… doing things together.

Tonight — a beautiful, silver-mooned, night — they began their activities in Victoria's room, this time around.

The pair sat on her bed in silence, both of which focused on doing two different tasks to keep themselves entertained. All the while giving one another the occasional show of affection every now and again.

Victoria was immersed in her book, whereas Noriko had built their focus on solving the puzzle of keys Elara had dared them to solve earlier that day.

Fiddling with the puzzle, their face scrunched in silent frustration. How bothersome…

They were sure to reprimand Elara the following day for giving them a task so tedious. However, Noriko's pride refused to back down, so regardless of how they felt about the puzzle, they were still somewhat determined to solve it.

And yes, Victoria had offered to assist in solving it— resulting in Noriko politely declining the offer, not only for the sake of their own pride but also to fulfill the need to impress her.

“Honestly, you're such a buffoon,” Elara had told Noriko, once upon a time, “even the simplest show of praise from Vic has you on your knees. You're like some obedient dog.”

He'd silenced the Octavinelle wolf with a scowl, way back when. But upon further contemplation, Noriko felt too embarrassed to admit that Elara had a bit of a point.

In their quest to complete the puzzle, Noriko continued to fiddle with it, pulling at all the different keys in different ways to try and garner them apart.

They ended up dropping the puzzle on their face, eliciting a laugh from Victoria.

Noriko felt his face burn in embarrassment and utter bliss. How beautiful her laugh was, even as he faced a moment of complete humiliation, Noriko likely believed.

Victoria's laugh slowly turned into a gentle chuckle. “Are you alright?” She tilted her head down, brushing her lips over Noriko's brow.

“I'm quite alright,” Noriko chuckled at the brush of contact, themselves, pausing just enough for them to add: “And before you ask, I am in no need of assistance.”

Victoria hummed, eyes wandering between the puzzle in Noriko's hands, and the way Noriko's amber hues locked onto her set of sapphires.

“I wouldn't be quite so sure, Nori,” she pressed her index finger over his nose. “The way you're struggling with that puzzle implies otherwise.”

They huffed at her remark. “I can assure you with as much heart as any honorable gentleman, My Lady, I am in no need of any assistance.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite.”

“How amusing.”

There came a raise of Noriko's eyebrow.

“How so?” They questioned, uncertain of where this conversation was heading.

“Oh, nothing.”

Victoria's voice turned horribly innocent, feigning an act of purity that she so clearly lacked after years of trial and error.

Adjusting the position they were currently in, Victoria brought Noriko closer to her. Pressing her lips close to their ear in a way that got their face to turn very, very red.

“I just like seeing you so insistent,” she whispered into his ear, kissing his temple in addition to that. “So adorably ambitious, you are, Nori.”

Noriko's face burned. Adorably ambitious? Whatever was she thinking?

With their face abashed, Noriko hid the bearings of their face into the crook of her shoulder; A habit he'd unintentionally picked up after experiencing numerous nightmares, with Victoria always being there to bring comfort after being jolted awake.

Only this time, there were no nightmares at play to elicit this action from them.

In every way that mattered, Victoria preferred that. Giggling to herself, she kissed the top of their head, running her soft hand through his royal blue locks.

They embraced her further, their lips colliding against the base of her neck.

Victoria smirked, raising Noriko's chin with the pad of her fingers. “Don't get too comfortable now, Noriko Dolion.”

He huffed out a small laugh, leaning their foreheads against each other. “I lack a true apology implicit, My Lady.”

She crooned at them, bringing her hands to their face and cradling them close. “Noriko Dolion, you dare challenge me?”

“If it results in hearing that melodious voice of yours, My Lady, I wouldn't be opposed to continuing.”

“Oh my,” she tucked a couple strands of their hair behind their ear, “and where did this newfound confidence come from, then?”

Noriko shrugged, their shoulders sagging as they allowed themselves to relax in this moment— with her, and her alone.

“Think of it as a gift from Elara's never-ending teasing.”

She snorted. “Elara? Elara ‘everything is a game’ Cessair?”

“That Elara, yes. Or are you referring to a different one?”

“I don't believe I know another Elara, Sweetness.”

“Then that's the one I am referencing.”

“Hmm,” Victoria leaned her back upside the headboard of her bed; A midnight purple canopy that seemed to blend into the dark of night when the candles dimmed low.

“Then a thanks is in order for Miss Cessair, indeed.”

“Very much so.”

It hadn't even occurred to her — to either of them, really — that she'd completely abandoned any focus that was had on the book she'd been reading for the past half-hour.

Although Victoria would dare not complain about something so precarious. Not when she had her precious Knight tucked so nicely in her arms, their head resting atop her chest in comfortable bliss.

A sense of peace washed over the both of them. The kind of peace that never came often with how… chaotic, their daily lives were.

Chaotic might not even be the most proper way of describing their everyday life. Dealing with the rest of NRC’s student body: Deadbeat Headmasters, draconic nuisances, playful wolves, and the sort? Quite hectic, such occurrences were.

It was why the couple agreed on having these weekend ‘staycations’.

They didn't need to go anywhere, let alone leave campus grounds regardless of how tempting it felt — they just needed one another.

Enveloped in the arms of the other, in comfort. In peace.

“... Nori.”

Victoria had laid down after a while, still locking Noriko in her embrace. An embrace they never wanted to leave, no longer.

With no reaction, she furrowed her brows, lightly shaking him. “Nori…”

Noriko stirred in their quiet slumber, eventually fluttering open their eyes, his soft amber hues peering through her.

It pierced through her heart in what could only be described as the best in every way imaginable.

“Yes…” Noriko shifted, bringing themselves closer to Victoria. “Mm… What is it, My Lady?”

She smiled at the small gesture. Of bringing him closer to her simply because he wanted to.

All because they loved her more than they probably should.

Victoria didn't know how she got so lucky, with someone as devoted as Noriko. Loving her — imperfect, flawed, and broken her — so wholly, so perfect like the puzzle Noriko had abandoned to be in her warm embrace.

Her smile softened. So enchanting, Noriko always thought whenever the edges of her lips curved upward.

“I love you, Nori.”

Such words were so… Ordinary, in sound. So simple in phrasing— yet the weight of what it meant felt so good when it came from her.

Their noses brushed against one another.

One hand went to the side of Victoria's face, whereas Noriko's free arm wrapped around her waist.

So mesmerizing. Intoxicating. The kind of moment in life that they'd want to live through over and over again, simply to relive it.

She loved them. And they loved her, tenfold. In both the best and worst possible ways of it, Noriko loved Victoria in the only way they knew how.

Through loyalty. Through devotion.

Till death do they part, even if that future was unlikely with the cards life had dealt them.

“I love you too, Victoria.”

•♢°─────────°♢•

Waking up in the early mornings of whatever weekend became a regular occurrence for Noriko.

Being the Knight that they were, they'd developed the unintentional habit of sleeping a lot less than what the average person required.

But now — with her — Noriko believed that any stresses of the future could be withstood. That he could overcome those difficulties.

Those habits, the worst of them, especially.

Noriko had already believed that, in their eyes, Victoria deserved better than them. With her beauty, her wit, her being— they knew she could have just about anyone.

And yet: She chose them. Of all the people in the world, within the confines of Night Raven, Victoria Shard chose them.

Her most loyal Knight.

They looked down at her slumbering figure in their arms. The night before last, it had been them in her arms.

Suppose our sleeping forms had made this adjustment, they figured in the landscape of their thoughts.

Noriko refused to allow himself to wake her up. Victoria's schedule was — in the least sugar-coated way possible — a mess. It brought an undoubted level of stress in her everyday life in the academy, and the lady had little time to actually let loose in between and after running errands.

It was why Noriko wanted her to cherish moments like the one they were having right then and there for as long as she could. And vice versa.

Noriko smiled despite themselves, their lips making contact with the top of Victoria's hair.

“Sleep well, My Lady.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

—

Written for

@terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@mystery-skulls-ghost || @abyss-wonderer || @geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz

[rosietrace]

Ahh hi Rosie! I know I’m late but is the valentine asks still open?

Hi Cece!

Dw, you aren't late! The Valentine's asks are still open, I just have VERY bad writer's block 😭

Right now I'm prioritizing asks for close friends and non-requested works, but after that, I'm moving on to everyone else's asks!

[rosietrace]

10 something something kosbert fluff... <3

OF COURSE, ERIN!!

(Central) Characters Featured: Kosma, Albert

↳ { Albert belongs to @/mystery-skulls-ghost }

Others mentioned/featured: Mistress Alliette, Eden Miran

Pairing(s): Albert & Kosma

Event: Valentine's Day 2024 💌 [ FINALE ]

↳ Type: Requested Oneshot! 「 Prompt 10 — “Trying to learn every way to put a smile on the other's face” 」

Synopsis: Standing atop a meadow can prove to be awfully lonely. What's wrong with a little company?

Warning(s): 🚨POTENTIAL ETTEILLA SPOILERS🚨, content for unreleased ocs, potentially ooc, Albert doesn't really talk much, Etteilla lore is coming I promise /hsrs, less dialogue-y and more ✨ vaguely metaphorical paragraphs ✨

〈 NOTICE: The characters of Mistress Alliette, Kosma, and Albert are unreleased characters— with Albert belonging to @/mystery-skulls-ghost, and therefore, details of them will be kept vague until their release!! 〉

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⇎」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Albert stood beneath the willow tree, peering through it to catch a glimpse at the meadow before him.

It had been a while since he'd last seen one— especially a meadow quite so beautiful as the one that lay before him.

All that time in a card can change a person, their perception of their surroundings. Of themselves. Albert was no different from the rest of his peers.

Mistress Alliette proved to be a benevolent enough leader to him and the others. While not perfect, it's acknowledged by him and everyone else that she's been making… A valiant effort for not only the sake of her goal but for their sakes.

“Whatcha doin' here all alone?”

Albert’s head turned slightly, eliciting a hoarse groan when Kosma approached.

Peculiar. Vibrant. Advanced. Kosma's pearl white hair, intricately styled into a pair of twin drills, blew softly against the wind.

She approached Albert, a gentile yet cautious effort in the way she presented herself around him.

“Huh…” Kosma smiled fondly at the sight of the meadow, of the great distance they were from the castle. “It's beautiful…”

Though his throat was beyond repair of the damage that'd been done, Albert had just barely managed to reply, “.... It is…”

Kosma stood beside him, tilting her head. “I wonder what it's like over there,” she motioned to the greater distance of the meadow he couldn't quite make out, “what goes beyond it…?”

“Be sure to not go beyond the barrier,” Mistress Alliette had warned them all, that small eternity ago.

“Lest you wish to find a spear to your chest if you're to be discovered.”

Albert knew little about Kosma, and vice versa. Their interactions were all but long-term, as the latter was often required to accompany the Mistress in her escapades.

Resulting in the few interactions they currently had being… Awkward.

It didn't help that Albert could barely string up a full sentence even if his life depended on it— and it didn't.

Mostly silence, single words, and the sounds of cryptids from him. Kosma thought to herself, her attention shifting from the meadow to the tall man before her.

If you could even call Albert a man, given his current state. Unnaturally tall, his hair inky and obscuring his face in darkness. The multiple cuts and the thinness of his body brought out a sense of worry from Kosma— and the noose constantly hanging around his neck wasn't helping.

It fascinated Kosma, a lover of all things cryptic. She had so many questions to ask him, but couldn't bring herself to ask any of them.

Most of them, at least. Kosma had one particular question in mind, but it was less involved in Albert's autonomy and all the other ‘boring researcher factoids’ and more… In regards to how Albert emotes.

She gave him another look, if she had any neck pains from having to tilt her up for long periods just to look at him, she didn't show it.

“Can I…” Kosma's hesitation was evident, but if she had a question in mind, she really wanted Albert to know. “... Can I ask a question? About you, I mean, you don't have to answer, but-”

The slight nod Albert made interrupted any concerns Kosma might've had. Then again, it wasn't like her question would offend him in any way.

At least, she hoped it wouldn't.

Sucking in a breath, she had a bit of mental preparation before bringing up her query with Albert— to which the latter patiently (and slightly creepily) stood before her in what she presumed was anticipation.

“Can you… Smile?”

Silence. Awkward, excruciating, silence.

A slight panic rushed through Kosma's veins, which was quickly cut off by the groan that left Albert's lips.

“You… Can..?”

“... N..”

“You can't? You can or you can't?”

She felt bad for pushing him to give her an answer, and she was ready to tell him it was okay if he didn't answer.

But his limp shoulders gave their best show of a shrug. And her guilt transitioned into intrigue.

“You…” Kosma made a couple random gestures with her hands to try and show what she was trying to convey. “You… Uh- You don't know-?”

“... Correct..”

“Ah,” it made sense. Strange as it was, it did make a flicker of sense to Kosma.

Humming, an awkwardly placed smile graced the features of her bearings. Was there any harm in helping Albert try?

“Well,” her smile slowly eased up. Less tense, more casual with an unreadably giddy gleam in her eyes.

“Could you… Smile for me?”

“... I…”

Albert never really smiled. Not for a very long time, especially after the incident that resulted in his body turning into what it was now.

And as surprisingly nice as everyone in the inner circle was, he never had many moments where he'd try to get the edges of his lips to curve upwards.

Not until this small, weirdly endearing moment with Kosma.

Just as much as she was fascinated by him, he was fascinated by her.

Her clothes, her mannerisms, her way of speaking— all of them were from a future Albert never believed he'd see. A remnant from another time, whose fate had become a cryptic story to frighten small children and told during campfires among a group of friends.

He remembered a time when he was, in his own right, similar to Kosma. Fascinated by everything around him, questioning it all. Even questioning that far-away future.

The future he was currently living in. Same person, same body. Even if that body was in a state beyond repair.

They had little to no similarities to one another; The Hanged Man, and The World.

A man whose cards in life led to a fate most unfortunate— and a woman sent to a backward time through the results of hubris.

He was a shell of his former self. Barely even that, he was a husk. A husk covered in bloodied cuts that couldn't even string a proper sentence together for the life of him.

“.. Well….”

Kosma waited with the patience of a saint, the patience that even the likes of Eden could only dream of. With her hands behind her back and her head cocked to one side, the tip of one of her twin drills tickling her neck.

She smiled. And for reasons he couldn't properly grasp, it was a comfort for Albert. It was soft, filled with wonder, and reminded him of an almost simpler, more nostalgic time of everything before it all crashed down.

That feeling gave Albert a sense of peace. Closure, even if that wasn't quite what it was.

All of it building up for even the barest hint of a smile on his face.

Kosma couldn't see it, and she didn't dare try to inch closer to Albert; Not because she was afraid of getting close to him — far from it, if anything — but because she didn't like the idea of crossing any boundaries he wasn't capable of verbally establishing.

They both smiled. One hidden, one shown for all the world to see.

No words were said. Only the calming bliss of the meadow they stood from, and each other.

And it was enough.

†•°•══════ஓ๑「⇎」๑ஓ══════•°•†

• 「ʚ♡ɞ」 • A message!

↳ ° Not proofread °

Hi Erin!!

I'm pleased to tell you that you are, in fact, the first and last of Coconut to have your Valentine's request fulfilled! It started with you on your Birthday (🎉), and it ends with you on March 14th— Aka White day!! Woo!

(Yes, I'm very much aware that it's only the 14th in our timezone right now, but shhh let's live in the future‼️‼️)

Thank you so SO much for sending in your requests! Harlity and KosBert are incredibly dear to me as ships of ours, and I'm really happy to know that you enjoy talking about them as much as I do!!

Thank you, and the rest of Coconut (hi pookies!) for requesting in my 2024 Valentine's event— it was really fun to do all of your requests, and I'm REALLY sorry that some asks/requests weren't fulfilled 😭

In any case, I hope you enjoyed this oneshot, and have a happy White Day!! 🤍🤍💘💖

— Rosie

•❣°─────────°❣•

Taglist

—

Written for

@mystery-skulls-ghost

—

🥥

@starry-night-rose || @jasdiary || @authoruio || @nem0-nee || @fumikomiyasaki || @sakuramidnight15

—

「 Etteilla ♢」

@geminiiviolets || @hallowed-delights / @terrovaniadorm || @twsted-princess || @absolutelyobsessedkiya / @twistedsongstressofstarz || @abyss-wonderer