#ꜱᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ; ᴜɴʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ - [ic]

[thusaliar]

@asternovi: [ inspection ] Carlo inspects P for injuries after they fought a carcass together. "You have to be more careful..." ｡･ﾟﾟ･🦋 - from 🐝  *  ―  𝑵𝑶𝑵-𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.

✧ ˚ · .

Turning back the time without Sophia wasn't a possibility for him anymore; if he got destroyed, it would be the end for him. Still, even knowing that, he was reckless in a fight. P could take a lot of damage and still get fixed, he was a puppet after all. His brother, on the other hand, was not. Perhaps he wasn't as human as he used to be, with everything that had happened to him, but Carlo's body was still much more fragile.

P huffed softly, letting Carlo check on the damage. One of the carcasses got too close, and P jumped between it and his brother. He defeated it in a matter of seconds, but it managed to hit just before that. With one eye closed due to some of the scratches landing uncomfortably close to it, P looked at his brother. The wound he was inspecting was much deeper than the scratches on his face.

"I'm fine." he said shortly, coming off a bit rougher than he intended. After all, he wasn't used to being taken care of like this. Up until Carlo woke up him, P always fought alone and took care of his damage alone. Having Carlo fuss over it was new and not unwelcome either. P simply didn't know how to react.

The damage the carcass managed to do luckily wasn't anything serious, but would still require taking care of. The equivalent of bleeding to death for a puppet would be the loss of oil that kept his body on and moving. He could shut down if he lost too much of it and that could be an issue. P reached for his belt but sighed when his hand landed on a discharged pulse cell. Well, that's unfortunate.

"I'm out of pulse cells." he admitted to his brother, looking away. Perhaps the odd feeling in his chest was shame or guilt. Requiring getting fixed and the lack of pulse cells would clearly slow them down now.

"Are you alright?" P finally asked, raising his hand to rest in on Carlo's shoulder, trying to draw his attention.

[thusaliar]

P perked up, actually somewhat happy about the outcome. Fighting was fun and all, but maybe it would be nice to get along as well... Or well, he could hope at least. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a brother after all.

"Deal." he nodded. Truthfully, he didn't mind. All of the songs they could listen to were his favourites, mostly because he didn't know any besides the ones he managed to bring back into the Hotel.

Waiting just another second for his twin to join, P turned to walk towards the lobby, where they could sit down and maybe, just maybe, bond a little over the music.

Or at least rest after the fight.

Pinocchio, on the other hand, kept the pout for a few more seconds... before letting out the loudest, most annoyed sigh ever, side-eyeing a still quite hopeful Venigni. Fine. Fine. Let's be nice.

Let's be niiiice.

"...sure.

But I'm choosing the song."

They're going to listen to Fascination on loop. That's not negotiable.

[thusaliar]

@ervaurem: Standing by the staircase of the hotel, Romeo saw P who just got back from another expedition. A longer than usual. Or maybe luck favored the King once in a while. When the other puppet walked in his direction, his eyes followed, quiet and curious in nature. Once P was close enough, Romeo took his hand in a gentle manner, as part of the custom greeting they had had established since a while back. "L̷o̷o̷k̷s̷ l̷i̷k̷e̷ I̷ g̷o̷t̷ a̷h̷e̷a̷d̷ o̷f̷ y̷o̷u̷ t̷h̷i̷s̷ t̷i̷m̷e̷.̷ W̷e̷l̷c̷o̷m̷e̷ b̷a̷c̷k̷,̷ P̷.̷" ( more ng+3 for the soul? more ng+3 )

✧ ˚ · .

A 'long day' shouldn't be an issue for a puppet, they couldn't get tired. Yet, the expedition was long and tedious; he could only hope that Sophia couldn't tell how often the Stargazer was used. Some of the puppets still reacted poorly to him, a few of them blowing up literally in his face, some being more distinguished and shooting him from far away.

He almost decided to stay back and rest somewhere within the city, finding a spot safe enough to recover. This plan was quickly abandoned, realizing that there were more reasons to return to the Hotel than just rest.

One of the reasons was looking right at him as he entered the Hotel, relief washing over P right away. The puppet didn't look too good. Everything was a mess, clothes soaked with rain and oil, with some of it smeared across his skin. On other days, he would take a break to wash himself, but today was too exhausting.

P began to feel better as soon as he could feel the familiar gaze on him, and as if shyly, he avoided looking up to meet Romeo's eyes. Maybe it was just a tease, or maybe he wanted to wait until he got closer. As soon as he stood in front of Romeo, he couldn't hold back any more; he looked up to the other's face, their eyes meeting right away this time. It was enough for his heart to pound louder again, something that didn't happen so often when Romeo was away.

The first thing he did, upon getting closer, was briefly inspect Romeo for any sign of trouble during his own expedition. Luckily, there wasn't any sign of harm to him, everything seemed just fine. Good. He can allow himself to rest now.

P let out a soft sigh as he pulled Romeo's hand closer and leaned in to leave a tender kiss on the top of his hand. He let it linger for a moment or two, then took a step closer to the King and fell into his arms, letting him catch him. Romeo was warm, and P's own Ergo responded by warming up, pulsing in his chest together with his heart. Oh, he could fall asleep just like that... But it wasn't the right time just yet.

"Romeo..." he muttered, greeting him back quietly, "It is good to be back home." P hummed, holding onto the taller puppet slightly. Ever since Romeo began meeting him at the door, returning to the Hotel felt better than it previously did. Sure it was a safe space, but was it safe for P, if he was supposed to protect it? Only when Romeo started living with them at the Hotel, he began to feel safe and protected, just like the other residents.

It was a nice feeling.

[thusaliar]

@ervaurem cont.

The smaller puppet notices the worry in Romeo's face—or rather, feels it—because their faces aren't yet able to portray such subtle changes in expressions. Nevertheless, P can feel it, and he moves one hand to gently cup the other's cheek.

Their situation wasn't the easiest. The Alchemists were still a threat, and protecting the city was getting more difficult day by day. Romeo's role in all this was big, and P understood the weight that came with it. It didn't mean that Romeo had to be alone in all of this. P holds his cheek gently for a few moments, a small attempt at washing the worries away. But the King's Ergo didn't seem to slow down, and P wondered if there was anything else bothering him.

Looking up to meet his eyes, P smiled lightly, trying to reassure him. He was doing enough, and he was doing it just right. Oh, if only P knew what was really on King's mind. He wasn't confident that Romeo felt the same way P did—his own Ergo warming up, growing bigger, almost threatening to escape from his chest. Yet, he does his best to ignore it and simply focus on their small but sweet moment.

The puppet's hand gently slides from the other's cheek down to his shoulder, where it rests as they continue their slow dance. Every move was precise and calculated, faithfully following the rhythm of the song. After all, mistakes like this weren't the puppet's domain. Only humans seemed to miss the beat and completely lose the harmony of the song in their clumsy moves. P and Romeo moved gently but precisely, following the song's every note.

Though the entire city was on their shoulders, P couldn't focus on it right now. Not with the King so close, not with his hands on his body. Romeo seemed to have the flame running through him at all times, just like at the Opera House - and it seemed to infect P whenever he was close to or touched him. Everything seemed to heat up within him, even without flames anywhere close.

But, ever since that day at the Opera House, the warmth that Romeo brought upon him felt different. It wasn't burning, or at least it wasn't causing him any harm. It felt just right. The memory of that day followed him, and against all mechanisms, he involuntarily looked at Romeo's lips. As soon as he realized he was staring, P averted his gaze, feeling his Ergo burn up. What did this all mean?

With the music filling the room, P decided not to speak, letting both of them enjoy the melody as long as it lasted. They can talk later when they're done dancing.

Even if he hopes they never have to stop.

[thusaliar]

@ervaurem

Romeo was confused. He could even describe his thought process as one who felt worried or troubled. He was certain he left the trinket at the table in P's room. He didn't know how or why it wasn't there anymore. His memory, being a puppet and all, should be impeccable. Nothing about this added up for him. Right when he was about to head out and ask the other, his eyes were quick to spot what looked to be the necklace. He only took a single step towards P before stopping. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, despite one thought deep in his subconscious was the possibility that P wanted to throw it away, as uncharacteristic and drastic as that sounded. Wordlessly, P handed the memento back to Romeo. For the first time in their relationship, he wished the other didn't utilize a puppet's default feature of having a blank canvass of an expression. He didn't know what P was thinking or feeling. As soon as he saw what was scribbled on the back of the necklace, however, Romeo realized what P had done. 'It will be all right, always at your side, Romeo.' "O̷h̷." Romeo didn't know how many times he read these words. Memories of the past would always be with him. With P, this would be a chance to create a future together. He wasn't going to have to walk this world alone anymore. Holding the necklace to his chest, he reached out to hold P's hand in a gesture of gratitude. His eyes couldn't produce tears, but deep down in his own Ergo, he knew he was. There was no other feeling like it. "T̷h̷a̷n̷k̷ y̷o̷u̷.̷ E̷v̷e̷r̷y̷t̷h̷i̷n̷g̷'̷s̷ a̷l̷r̷i̷g̷h̷t̷,̷ n̷o̷w̷ t̷h̷a̷t̷ I̷'̷m̷ b̷y̷ y̷o̷u̷r̷ s̷i̷d̷e̷,̷ P̷.̷"

❦❦❦❦

The thought of throwing the trinket away has crossed his mind before, wanting to remove any sign of Carlo from his environment. The necklace seemed to daunt him wherever he would find it, so much so he avoided even looking at it. Still, no matter how terrible the necklace made him feel, he would never do anything to get rid of it. No, this would hurt Romeo, and he wasn't going to do that.

Instead, he had to make sure Romeo knew how much he meant to him, and that he wasn't Carlo. For a while, being mistaken or treated as Carlo didn't bother him, but that was before he gained humanity. Now, each time he was mentioned or compared, hurt. The most distressing part was seeing Romeo longing for his friend. In consequence, P often felt not enough for the other.

So, when Romeo was away, P took the necklace. Not to throw it away or break it, but to let Romeo know how much he means to him. It was a delicate work to scribble those words onto such a delicate item, but with Venigni help, he figured it out. Just in time, because moments later, he saw Romeo enter his room - he knew what he was looking for in there.

P was quick to catch up to him, catching him just as he was about to leave. It was there that words failed him and his heart pounded louder than it was supposed to. P was certain that even the puppet in front of him could hear how loudly the beating mechanism worked, betraying his true feelings. Even if his face remained blank to hide what he truly felt, his heart couldn't do that.

Watching as Romeo looked at the necklace, P wondered if he had done the right thing. Perhaps he shouldn't have taken it, maybe leaving a message just for Romeo wasn't the best idea. Doubts and anxiety crept up on him quietly, but as soon as they appeared, a gentle hand scared those feelings away. Looking down at Romeo holding his hand, P raised his eyebrows in slight disbelief. It was alright.

As the other spoke, P remained silent, but his expression finally changed. It softened, and his gaze seemed to grow more affectionate as he looked up from their hands to Romeo's face. Not giving it much thought, as if it was a natural motion, P intertwined their fingers, responding with a gentle squeeze.

"Always." he said softly, taking just a small step closer to the King. Even though their world and lives were uncertain, this was something he was able to promise. To always be there for and with Romeo, no matter what, wherever they might be.

As he looked at his face, P recognized the feeling resonating through the other's Ergo. He then reached with his free hand and gently cupped the other's cheek. The touch was surprisingly gentle, considering it came from the mechanical hand - something that supposedly only dealt damage otherwise. The feeling was recognized, and although it couldn't be much more than a play pretend, P brushed his thumb across Romeo's cheek, wiping the symbolic tear away.

[thusaliar]

continued. @ervaurem

P knew all too well that it didn't hurt. He experienced it himself before, and although unpleasant, it didn't hurt. One could think of it as a blessing, but was it really? To him, it felt more like a curse.

Especially now, when he was holding his friend close, watching him die in his arms. Die, or shut down? Many would call it that, but P couldn't. Romeo was a puppet, there was no denying it, but at the same time, he was so much more. He could be so much more... Romeo wasn't hurting, but P was. It was all his fault, he knew how everything would have played out, yet, he still brought his dear friend here. Why? Was he seriously hoping that Geppetto wouldn't try to take his heart this time around? Idiot.

Holding his friend's mechanical body close, he leaned in to keep him closer, as if that would keep him around longer. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest, and the springs synchronized with it in a consistent rhythm. He was as human as he could be, and the recent events had left him feeling flooded with emotions.

"I shouldn't have brought you here. It's all my fault." P wasn't angry about Romeo attacking him; after all, he was merely forced to follow the orders, bound by loyalty to his friend and the past. The fight lasted long and for a long time, P tried to stop Romeo without hurting him - only to finally realize that there was no other way.

So the fight ended just like the first one, except for P holding Romeo in his arms, watching his body slowly shut down. This hurt, hurt so badly.

"I'm sorry." he said quietly, watching as Romeo's eyes looked at him, and yet somewhere past him. And just like that, just seconds later, he was gone. It wasn't the first time he saw him pass, but this time it felt like his own springs were about to stop.

A clicking noise followed through the chamber, and P knew what was about to happen; it wasn't his last fight today. But there was something he had to do. 'I'll always be by your side.' Romeo's words echoed in his head. P knew what to do.

Gently, he lays Romeo's body down, taking one last look at his friend's face. Maybe it was good he couldn't feel any of it, for once. Reaching with a hand, he gently lays it on top of the puppet's chest - this time, it wasn't the legion arm he was using. He was gentler.

P could feel it right under his fingers, the gentle warmth and pulse, soon enough followed by a bright blue right emerging from the body. Romeo's Ergo was right at his fingertips, but he wasn't about to use it. Instead, just like with Sophia, he lets it rest within his own body, close to his mechanical heart. For a moment, he felt lightheaded, but then he felt a familiar sense of warmth.

Romeo was safe with him.

[thusaliar]

@modestmuses: Singed: "Grief can drive people to extraordinary lengths." from: Concerned Sentences, Vol. 8

"I know too well." the puppet replied shortly, not letting Gemini get ahead. Although helpful, the cricket wouldn't stop talking, and the subject of grief wasn't P's favourite. His entire existence was built around an old man's grief, or rather a desperate attempt to make himself feel better after basically abandoning his son.

Sometimes, P wondered if it wouldn't be better if he had never come to be in the first place. This way, he wouldn't have to play the old man's games, and he wouldn't have suffered everything he went through. People would have lived, and puppets wouldn't have broken. Then again, Krat's future depended on him, and often, it seemed that only on him. But did Geppetto really think about Krat, or just about a way for him to fix his mistakes? Fix how he left his real son away to die, far from home and family? Perhaps that's what it always had been. Carlo's death was his creator's biggest mistake and he would do anything to make himself feel better about it. Bringing Carlo back was just a secondary goal, so there was no way the old man actually cared about Krat's state. It was a ruin.

''I don't think grief should be an excuse though.'' he summed up his thoughts.

[thusaliar]

@ervaurem: "If you turn around, you're mine." Romeo wasn't trying that hard to hide behind the trees. Nevertheless, it was heartwarming sight to see P looking for him. ( ofc we gotta!! a dream come true [literally haha] )

✧ ˚ · .

This little hunt has been going on for a few minutes, P purposefully sneaking away from Romeo as they looked for each other in the Hotel's gardens. P wanted to be the one to find Romeo, while actively avoiding being found by the other.

He had not seen him today yet, returning from his won quest just a few minutes ago. The weather was exceptionally nice today; it was sunny, but not too hot. Perfect to just sit down outside and relax, which is exactly what he had done, listening to Romeo play his violin back inside the Hotel. P didn't have to announce that he came back; he was well aware that Romeo would just know.

And he did, but when he finally came outside to meet P, the puppet was already gone, hiding in the more overgrown part of the garden. And thus, their little game of hide and seek began. P would always sneak away when Romeo got too close, attempting to circle around him and sneak up on him in return. Ah, but the King was quick in his moves, always escaping at the last moment.

Eventually, P lost sight of him, which was quite an achievement considering the other puppet's height. Looking around, slightly confused, he didn't expect Romeo to be just behind him. His voice made him pause and P smiled slightly, admitting defeat. Of course, he would get him like that.

Then, without giving it one thought, P obliged and turned around to face Romeo, a bright smile spreading on his lips as their eyes finally met. Oh, he liked that.

[thusaliar]

Gemini's lamp flickered, visibly taken aback by the lack of knowledge of the person in front of them. Then again, if he really came from... That far afar, it would make sense for him to not know what was going on around the city and its surrounding areas. Well, the least he can do for the young man is to explain things, but it would be a long story.

"Do you want the short or the long version, pal? It's a lot to take in if I can be honest." 'a lot' probably didn't describe it too well, but if Gary didn't belong here, he probably wouldn't feel that sort of attachment and sadness over the tragedy of this place. Showing him around was an option, especially if they were going to take him to the Hotel - which they probably have to make up their minds about soon. They couldn't risk letting someone with ill intentions in, but the boy seemed genuinely lost. Perhaps he was no danger to them.

"We can fix the... Ship." P replied, thinking. Now, the ship he knew of was rather bound to water, but Gary didn't mention traveling through the sea. None of it made sense to him, but perhaps he is still missing human context here.

Before the puppet could continue, Gemini decided to butt in. "Hold on now, what is H.U.E.? It's not a name I'm familiar with."

" The disease? Puppet frenzy? Now hold the freak on you can't just tell me that and not elaborate! "

   Okay sure maybe they can, but he'd like to know anyway! Does he have to worry about that sort of thing while he's here? He sure hopes not, it's bad enough a cosmic entity of massive power already wants him dead for a reason he still doesn't know.

   Maybe it's because he woke up Bolo.

   At the question, Gary crosses his arms over his chest. How much can they help if there's no more humans? Is it even safe to get things like supplies here for him and his crew? Is there food? Medicine? Things like that?

" Uh. Sort of? I need supplies for my crew, and probably some help repairing my ship. We can probably figure it out with H.U.E. though. "

[thusaliar]

✧ ˚ · . @ervaurem cont.

As P watched Romeo's expression shift from groggy to shock and surprise, many emotions washed over him, all at once Fear, because maybe he wasn't supposed to say it out loud - perhaps he wasn't meant to love, or maybe the feeling in his chest wasn't what he thought it was. Even though he was certain that's how love felt, he was still afraid it would be dismissed. Sadness, because what if Romeo really doesn't feel that way? Surely, they have done things suggesting love, but without the feeling spoken out loud, did it count? It did for P, but perhaps he was wrong. Everything about feelings was still relatively new to him. Regret, because he wasn't human, and wasn't him. He would never be either of those things, but did it really exclude him from loving somebody? Desire, because now more than ever before, with his feelings out in the open, he wanted Romeo. He wanted the King to love him back. Please.

The time between his confession and Romeo speaking felt like hours, and P was getting ready to jump out of bed and leave the room immediately after. If the other didn't love him back, what else was left for him than shame and retreat? P wasn't sure he would be able to face him if the other didn't feel it back. The thought alone made his mechanical heart ache - something he felt for the first time in his life. Never before did the fear reach his heart. It pounded so loud and hard, as if it was just about to escape from his chest.

Closing his eyes for a split second, P went back to all the timelines they shared together. Even the very first time he had entered the Opera House, he could sense some kind of connection. Back then, he assumed it was just the feeling of having an actual enemy - they were destined to meet and fight, it was their fate. The feeling accompanied him timeline after timeline when they weren't enemies any more. It grew stronger, deeper, and evolved. P remembers the first time he held Romeo's hand, the first time they fought alongside him, and each time he had to break him; it seemed that no matter what, they always had to end up crossing their blades in the end.

Could this timeline be any different? P really wanted it to be. Right from the start when he brought Romeo back, right when their lips met for the first time - ever since that moment he felt the connection bind them stronger and closer together, eventually leading to an unbreakable bond. Maybe they didn't know it at the time, but with their Ergos bonding, their connection was set, fates intertwined. P thought about the moment back in the Opera House when he first got to truly feel Romeo's Ergo. It made him shiver lightly, his own Ergo responding to the memory alone...

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by Romeo's words. P opened his eyes and looked into the other's eyes. He was unable to keep a flat expression any more, and seeing the tear rolling down Romeo's cheek was the last straw for the mask to break. It was replaced by an expression that was never before present on P's face. So honest and so pure, so completely new. His heart was racing in his heart, pounding so hard and loud, the sound difficult to ignore in the silence of their room. Together with it, his Ergo pulsed, matching the rhythm of the Ergo intertwined with it. They were bound together, ever since that day at the Opera House, when they first felt each other down to their very souls.

The puppet smiled brightly; the most human smile he was capable of, a smile that truly reached his eyes. Moving his hand from Romeo's shoulder, he cupped his cheeks in both of his hands. Unable to resist the happiness, he pressed their foreheads together and chuckled softly.

"I love you." he repeated, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of Romeo's lips, just to pull back again. "I love you." he repeated again, the purest of laughs following as he left one kiss after another all over Romeo's face - they were short and gentle. Acting almost instinctively, P moved from his place and carefully slid on top of the much taller puppet, straddling his waist. With his hands still on Romeo's cheek, he looked into his eyes, stopping the kisses just for a moment. His thumb moved lightly across the other's cheek, wiping the lone tear away.

P stared at him, eyes showing the purest feeling - an expression that appeared on his face for the first time, the newfound feeling clear to read in his blue eyes. And for the first time since he cried over Romeo's body, his eyes teared up, tears threatening to spill. Everything he had heard on the records, no matter what language those words were sung in, now made sense. Oh, let the records play forever.

"I love you." P repeated once more and leaned in, pressing his lips against Romeo's.

[thusaliar]

@ervaurem: By the stacks of briefcases on the upper floor, Romeo stood, unmoving, with his back facing P. But it was because he had Spring cozily sitting on his folded arms. "I̷ d̷o̷n̷'̷t̷ k̷n̷o̷w̷ h̷o̷w̷ a̷n̷d̷ w̷h̷y̷,̷ b̷u̷t̷ s̷h̷e̷ j̷u̷s̷t̷ d̷e̷c̷i̷d̷e̷d̷ t̷o̷ c̷l̷i̷m̷b̷ o̷n̷ m̷e̷.̷ B̷a̷c̷k̷ t̷h̷e̷n̷,̷ a̷l̷l̷ m̷y̷ e̷f̷f̷o̷r̷t̷s̷ w̷e̷r̷e̷ i̷n̷ v̷a̷i̷n̷,̷ s̷o̷.̷.̷.̷" Little did he know that what made P closer to the feline, was similar to Romeo's situation. He felt warm, but more especially, he felt human. And the credit to this much humanity within him was thanks to the puppet before him, his Ergo pulsing with joy just from being in the other's presence again. ( more NG+3 goodness? but yes for romeo it took 3 timelines for spring to warm up to him dhsksns )

✧ ˚ · .

P stared at him curiously, walking closer to take a peek at what was going on. It was rare that Romeo wouldn't face him, and P was interested to see what held him back this time. Seeing the cat relaxed in his arms, P smiled softly. It took him a long time to convince the feline to trust him and an even longer time to try to pick her up. Sometimes it felt that the claws she wielded were stronger than any weapon P has ever tried, but the cat was so different now. It was a nice feeling to have her finally accept them for who they were.

With a soft hum, P wrapped his arms around Romeo's waist from behind, snuggling into his back lightly. There was definitely one thing he and Spring could agree on; Romeo's warmth was comforting. He could definitely understand why Spring had decided to climb Romeo, especially today when the outside weather made one crave the comfort of a warm and cozy bed. It could be perfectly substituted by the King's warmth. So now, Romeo was stuck between a cat and a clingy puppet, both leaning against him, almost competitively.

P closed his eyes, listening to Romeo's heartbeat, his own picking up pace just slightly, motivated by the King's presence. They spent so much time together, both of them forgetting about anything else in the world. Perhaps that's what they both needed and was proved to be the most effective in making them more human, and Spring was there to test it.

"I'm happy she likes you now." P said softly, pressing his cheek against Romeo's back, leaning against him almost with all of his weight.

[thusaliar]

"..." -Looks at the Camera Like he's on The Office-

[thusaliar]

✧ ˚ · . @ervaurem cont.

Not a day passed without thinking about the promise he gave to the young prince. Through all of the training hardships, class issues, and school trouble, not once did he think about giving up on his promise. The promise was what kept him going, soon excelled in every class and training. It was obvious that P's future was tied to the royal court, even to the King himself; even if not everyone was fond of the idea, no one could deny his swordsmanship. P was offered many jobs, even offers from different kingdoms, but he didn't even look at them. No, his eyes were set on something, someone else entirely.

P missed Romeo greatly during his training, writing letters to the ever-so-busy prince almost daily, only for the prince to never receive them. Neither one of them was aware of the letters going missing, P simply assuming that Romeo had no time to respond to them; he wasn't offended, and it wasn't enough to cast him away. A promise was a promise.

The young knight observed the king, part of him still unable to believe they were in the same room again, looking at each other like all these years ago. P smiled lightly, even if the smile wasn't reciprocated. He knew it wasn't a childhood game anymore, what they got themselves into was real and a great responsibility. Romeo was trusted with the entire Kingdom, and P was entrusted with protecting Romeo - and oh, he was willing to die for him.

Hearing Romeo's voice, the Knight stood up carefully, the sheathed rapier falling into place on his side. It was an unusual weapon choice for the King's bodyguard, but no one could change P's mind. It was the weapon he was most skilled in and would prove to be the most effective with. Wasn't that the point? As long as he gets the job done.

Silently, P walks towards Romeo, not breaking their eye contact even for a second. The sunlight casts colorful shimmers through the stained glass, the lights dancing across the room and the King's skin, making him look all the more divine. P stands in front of the King and swiftly removes his gloves; it was only right to hold onto the King's when his own was bared. Gently, he takes the King's hand and bows, leaning in close. They touch for the first time in years and the warmth of Romeo's skin is just as P has remembered. Without hesitation, he leans closer and presses a kiss. His lips press against the cold ring and stay there for a brief moment, before P moves away - for a second it looks like he is backing away, but instead, he presses another kiss, this time directly to Romeo's skin, pulling his hand just slightly closer.

With that, it was clear why P was there. Although loyal and now forever obedient to the King, serving the King and Kingdom wasn't the only reason why he was there. No, he was there to reunite with his beloved friend, to never part from him again. Soon, P straightened, letting the hold of their hands linger a little longer than it would be professional, but eventually let go.

"At your service, Your Highness." he said, though his tone was softer than it was supposed to be, once again betraying his true emotion. The King seemed much better at containing it. P is almost tempted to try to break his posture but remains collected. There's time and place for everything, after all. They'll get their chance soon enough.

[thusaliar]

"Tch. Snitch." seems like Geppetto forgot to program them to be mature.

[thusaliar]

✨Father, when can I leave to be on my own✨💅🤺

🤺 I've got the whole world to see! 🌍👁👁

[thusaliar]

P, how is No Nut November going?

''...'' The puppet just stares, then blinks a few times, dumbfounded.

''...yeah, no idea what that means either, pal.'' Gemini chirps in, just as clueless.

Truthfully, NNN is going quite well for the puppet, because how else can it go, for someone built that way?