#cosmos atrosanguineus

[christopherflowers]

Cosmos atrosanguineus, morning light

[tavolgisvist]

Thank you for tagging me, @crepesuzette2023! <33

last song: James Ray - It's Been a Drag

last book: Thank U Very Much. Mike McCartney's Family Album and The Creative Act: A Way Of Being by Rick Rubin (and I'm re-reading Paul's The Lyrics permanently because I'm real mesmerized by his mind and logic)

last movie: I just re-watched Get Back, sorry <33

last tv show: Only Murders in the Building (does it count?)

sweet/spicy/savory: spicy

relationship status: married

last thing i googled: how looks cosmos atrosanguineus

current obsession: hm, let's look… looks like four scousers (also bass in The Sun King and manifestation of the author's personality in the text)

looking forward to: a letter from my friend

tagging: @consulting--defective, @getbackmountain, @foryouwereinmysong, @thewalrusespublicist, @the-boney-rolls and @glowing-gold if you want to do this <3

[epistrefei]

🌸  to  offer  my  muse  a  flower.

There is some amusement to be found, Artemis finds, in the receiving of a flower. She cannot remember the last time she was offered a gift like this--in fact, the gifts she received were few and far in between. Cosmos atrosanguineus--known for the velvety color of it, and the near-delectable smell it emitted, a rich, vanilla-chocolate scent. Artemis does not immediately take it into her hands, instead letting Dronia hold it, her own hovering just over the plant.

"Thank you," Artemis murmurs genuinely, her gaze never leaving the flower. With a gentle touch to the stem, the flower suddenly blooms and grows further, a couple more heads blooming and branching off till it was a small sort of bouquet. "Where did you find this flower? I did not believe it to be native to this area, Dronia."

[aloflowers]

loài hoa đẹp và hiếm loài hoa đẹp và hiếm alo.flowers có nhiều mẫu hoa đa dạng nhất hiện nay. Chúng tôi luôn có sẵn các mẫu hoa và có thể phục vụ khách hàng 24/24. Ngoài ra còn giao hoa tận nơi khắp các tỉnh thành, từ Tp. HCM cho đến Thủ Đô Hà Nội. Chúng tôi đem lại một dịch vụ hoa tươi nhanh chóng và tiện dụng nhất cho khách hàng. Shop luôn giữ tác phong làm việc chuyên nghiệp đảm bảo các tiêu chí như chất lượng hoa, thời gian giao hoa, cách cắm hoa… Hơn thế nữa chúng tôi có thể xuất hóa đơn tài chánh khi khách hàng có nhu cầu BẤM TẠI ĐÂY ĐỂ XEM THÊM  TOP NHỮNG LOÀI HOA QUÝ HIẾM NHẤT TRÊN THẾ GIỚI ... 21 thg 9, 2020 — Những loài hoa quý hiếm nhất trên thế giới · 10. Hoa Quỳnh (tên tiếng Anh là Kadupul) · 9. Hoa Campion · 8. Lan Ma · 7. Cúc Vạn Thọ (tên tiếng Anh ... Top 16 Loài hoa hiếm nhất thế giới - https://dienhoa24gio.net/ 28 thg 1, 2021 — Hoa Kodupul. Hoa Kadupul là một trong những loài hoa đẹp và quý hiếm nhất thế giới. Loài hoa này còn đặc biệt được Phật giáo tôn sùng ... 10 loài hoa vừa hiếm, vừa đẹp - Vườn hoa lan Loài hoa lan đẹp nhất thế giới 10 loài hoa vừa hiếm, vừa đẹp 25 loài hoa quý hiếm thu hút bạn ngay từ cái nhìn đầu tiên ... 22 thg 2, 2019 — Hoa ưu đàm (Youtan Polou) · Hoa sen trắng (White Lotus) · Snowdonia Hawkweed · Hoa phong lan Nongke Thâm Quyến (Shenzhen Nongke Orchid) · Cây độc ... 10 loài hoa hiếm nhất trên thế giới tặng hoa gì cho lần gặp đầu tiên Theo các nhà khoa học thì trên thế giới có tới hơn 270.000 loài hoa. Thật khó để xác định xem đâu là loại hoa hiếm nhất trên thế giới và dựa vào những đặc điểm ... 10 loài hoa hiếm nhất thế giới, có loài vài chục đến vài nghìn ... 4 thg 1, 2019 — 10. Hoa Kadupul Hoa Kadupul ở Nhật Bản còn được gọi là “sắc đẹp dưới ánh trăng”. · 9. Hoa Campion · 8. Phong lan ma · 7. Cúc vạn thọ socola · 6. 10 Loài hoa hiếm nhất thế giới - https://shophoatuoidep.net › cua-han… Hoa Middlemist Red là một loài thuộc họ trà my, có màu hồng đậm, hiện nay chỉ tồn tại ở vườn New Zealand và nhà kính nước Anh. Một y tá đã mang loài hoa này từ ... 10 loài hoa đẹp và hiếm gặp nhất thế giới - Diệt Mối https://shopbanhoa.com/ 1/ Hoa Champion. 1 20 loài hoa độc đáo có hình dáng kì lạ hiếm gặp trên thế giới ... 27 thg 7, 2019 — Loài hoa này khi nở có mùi thịt thối rất hăng để thu hút ruồi và bọ cánh ... đến đôi môi căng mọng quyến rũ của một người phụ nữ tuyệt đẹp. Loài hoa hiếm nhất thế giới - Kinh nghiệm du lịch - Zing Những loài hoa đẹp lạ kỳ 26 thg 5, 2021 — Middlemist Red là loài hoa hiếm nhất thế giới. Bạn chắc chắn chỉ có thể nhìn thấy nó ở 2 địa điểm là một nhà kính tại Anh và một khu vườn ... Những loài hoa đẹp và hiếm có nhất thế giới - Đài Phát Thanh ... 12 thg 4, 2016 — Hoa là món quà đẹp nhất mà Mẹ thiên nhiên dành tặng cho con người. Hiện trên thế giới có khoảng 270.000 loài hoa các loại. Một số loài chỉ ... Những loài hoa hiếm và siêu đẹp có giá đắt nhất thế giới ... Hoa lan ma. Lan ma là một loài hoa hiếm, giống như mạng nhện mọc ở Cuba và Florida. Ngoài môi trường tự nhiên, rất khó để trồng ... 10 loài hoa đẹp và hiếm nhất hành tinh - Những loài hoa đẹp và hiếm nhất thế giới 25 thg 5, 2017 — 10 loài hoa đẹp và hiếm nhất hành tinh · 1. Hoa Jade Vine - Hoa móng cọp · 2. Hoa Champion · 3. Cúc vạn thọ Socola - Cosmos atrosanguineus · 4. Hoa ...  Xếp hạng: 4,2 · ‎12 phiếu bầu Các Loài Hoa Quý Ở Việt Nam - Top Những Bông Hoa Độc ... Vừa nhấm nháp trong lúc chờ đợi khai hoa nở nhụy, chiêm ngưỡng dung nhan của một loài hoa đẹp và quý hiếm tại việt nam. hoa quỳnh. Cây Hoa Gạo. Cây hoa gạo là ... Loài hoa đẹp nhất thế gian - Alo Flowers 5 loài hoa đẹp, độc, lạ, quý, hiếm nhất thế gian – Tân Sinh ... 25 thg 4, 2019 — Những bông hoa màu hồng và trắng tuyệt đẹp nở vào cuối tháng ba hoặc đầu ...

Những Loài Hoa Lạ Kỳ Quý Hiếm Nhất Trên Thế Giới - 1hot.vn 16 thg 10, 2020 — Kadupul được cho là rất đẹp và là loài hoa thực sự hiếm có, khiến nó trở thành loài hoa độc nhất vô nhị ở Ấn Độ và các khu vực khác. Kadupul đòi ... 10 loài hoa hiếm và đẹp nhất thế giới - Kiến thức khoa học Loài hoa lạ 10 loài hoa hiếm và đẹp nhất thế giới · Hoa Champion · Hoa Jade Vine (Hoa móng cọp) · Hoa mỏ vẹt · Cúc vạn thọ · Hoa Koki'o · Hoa Kadupul · Hoa lan ma · Hoa phong lan ... Loại hoa hiếm và đẹp nhất thế giới - Trên thế giới có khoảng 270.000 loài hoa. Mỗi loại hoa có một vẻ đẹp và câu chuyện riêng. Tuy nhiên, có những loại hoa vô cùng hiếm gặp, chỉ còn vài cá thể ...

[floreale-clm-cir]

Cosmos chocolat

By Clémentine Circaetis / (surreal blog)

[a-lilacsong]

Elena of Avalor Appreciation Week 2021: Crown

Long may she reign! ✿

[Image ID: A pencil crayon and ink drawing of five Noblins giving Princess/Queen Elena a flower crown. Three of them are in normal from and two of them are in dog form. Elena is in her pink outfit form 'Norberg Peace Prize,' and holding her scepter. She has her eyes closed and is smiling as Jiku puts the flower crown on her head. End ID]

[tinnacriss]

Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. by Laura Via Flickr: Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. Henry D. Thoreau

[soulessreflection]

I’m pretty happy for being able to do digital art again, so yeah! Here’s another one!

[missggullet]

Hey! I hope you are doing well and you are safe! 💚🌹

Azure, water lily, and moonbeam.

you have a beautiful blog 😊

hope you have a great day! And that you are well and safe! sending hugs 🤗

Hello there little frog, I hope you're doing amazing and keeping safe as well! I'm wishing you a lovely, peaceful Saturday 🌻🐸

• Azure : what are your favorite flowers? Oh, I simply love flowers, every kind and species of them perk up the mood and brings such a graceful touch in our lives that benefit the senses! Some of them stand out as my favorites like the Cosmos (atrosanguineus) chocolate flower who's a velvety beauty which smell like chocolate! Larkspurs, buttercups and blood red roses, blossoms that blooms in the night and the incredible Skeleton flower (Diphylleia grayi). And each flowers have their own meaning so you can learn to speak their language! Quite swell!

• Water Lily : do you prefer warm or cold weather? Warm weather do definitely sit well with my Mediterranean blood which thrive in the sunshine and heat. That despite residing where it's year-round often cold and wet!

• Moonbeam : what is your star sign? Sun in Libra, Moon in Sagittarius and Capricorn Ascendant! I do find astrology rather fascinating!

Thank you for your time love, your blog is nothing short of wholesome and beautiful too, sending you sanitized safe hugs back 🌹

[christopherflowers]

Chocolate Cosmos

[nifsgender]

Hemarisgender and Atrosanguineusgender

Atrosanguineusgender: a gender connected to the uncommon flower, chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus).

Hemarisgender: a gender connected to hummingbird moths (Hemaris)

[those70scomics]

~Classic Comic Saturday~

—

Those ’70s Comics: 814

Inspired by episode 511 - “The Girl I Love”

—

Comments: Eric and Donna’s time at the arboretum might not have been fun for them, but I enjoyed depicting it in the comics. I did some research to find the chocolate-smelling plant they mention in the episode. The flowers of the chocolate cosmos, also known as Cosmos atrosanguineus, indeed smell like chocolate. Not that it would be flowering in a Wisconsin winter, but it’s Point Place -- so anything is possible.

---

Complete Tree Brush Pack

[alouette-t]

Lark I get the feeling that you know plants or will be cool with Googling, so you got any head canons for yen and tissaia's favorite flower?

Sure, enjoy

You also don't need to worry about your spelling anon, I can't spell either.

Yennefer: Onyx Odyssey (Winter Jewels)

Mostly for aesthetic purposes, as well as it not being very well known, she also finds that it is mildly toxic to be a nice bonus.

Tissaia: What she says is Epiphyllum oxypetalum

(Queen of the night or Dutchman's pipe)

And she loves that plant, don't get her wrong, but her actual favorite is Cosmos atrosanguineus (Chocolate Cosmos)

The tiny endangered/extinct (it's complicated) flower that smells like chocolate.

[dellyduck]

Did you know that there’s a flower that smells like chocolate? :) It is called “cosmos atrosanguineus” or “chocolate cosmos", but it isn't edible. It's native to Mexico!

I did not know that! Nature can be evil sometimes, creating a flower that smells like chocolate but can’t be eaten like chocolate.

[floreale-clm-cir]

Little corona, cosmos chocolat

By Clémentine Circaetis / (surreal blog)

[inkedstarlight]

Living of Love

Summary: Sirius Black owns a punk rock flower shop. When Remus moves in across the street and opens up a bookstore, the two men meet and discover what it feels like to love once more. A Valentine's Day story. Lots of fluff.

Note: Just reposting a Wolfstar fic I published on AO3 a long time ago! For all who don’t know, I used to write a lot of Harry Potter fanfiction about three years ago. All of my HP fanfiction is posted on Archive of Our Own, and I’ve added it to my Masterlist. Nowadays, I’m writing a shit ton of ACOTAR and TOG fics (more to come very soon)! If you ever have prompts/requests, send them in my ask box! I will write: Nessian, Elriel, Feysand, Elorcan, Wolfstar, Jily, and Linny. Thank you to all those who read my fics, I can’t express how much it means to me!

“James!” Sirius cursed as he opened the door.

His best friend poked his head from behind the corner. “Yes, my lover?”

“Cut the crap. What the bloody hell have you done to my shop?”

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” He exclaimed with a sheepish grin.

Sirius stared wide eyed at his flower shop. Only it wasn’t. It was bedazzled in pink. Paper hearts linked their way across the walls. Red and pink stickers were plastered on the front windows. A jar of heart candies was placed on the counter. Every bouquet had a card with some absurd declaration of love resting in the flowers. Sirius sighed.

“What am I looking at, Prongs?”

“Well, my truly amazing friend, you’re looking at the new and improved Guns ’n Roses!” James raised his arms. “Lily helped me a bit last night. What do you think?”

“I think you’re crazy.”

“It’s a masterpiece.”

“It’s not punk rock at all. I asked you to help prep for the holiday – not to let Cupid come in and throw up on my flowers!”

“Embrace the holiday, Pads. It’s a wonderful thing – love.” James looked off with doe eyes.

Sirius snorted. “Still in your honeymoon phase, I see.”

“You’ll find someone too, you know.”

“Doubtful. The amount of eligible gay men in Hampshire is equivalent to the dignity I have left.” Sirius turned the sign on the front door that stated they were open before shutting it and walking into his shop.

Though it was a minimalist interior, it showcased his best floral arrangements. The black and white framed photographs of old bands rested on the rustic, brick walls. On the left and right walls were white shelves of flowers from peonies, to dahlias, to flower crowns. In the middle sat two maroon loveseats, angled toward each other. There was a round table in between them with Sirius’s favorite flowers in an intricate vase; cosmos atrosanguineus. And towards the back of the store was an L shaped counter with his bouquets of the month placed on it. He walked swiftly behind the counter to the registry, and placed his things on the floor. He surveyed his precious store with another look of disbelief.

“What about that guy you told me about a few weeks ago, the one who recently opened up a bookstore just across the street?” James waggled his eyebrows and followed him around the counter.

Sirius blushed as he remembered the man.

“Are you, Sirius Orion Black, the man who claims to have a ‘heart of steel’, blushing?”

Sirius sacked him in the shoulder in hopes of ending his utter embarrassment. “Sod off, Potter.”

But as James rubbed his shoulder and howled with laughter, Sirius allowed himself to remember the man whom he couldn’t stop thinking about…

Sirius flipped the ‘open’ sign as the first drops of rain began to come down. It was a cloudy day on Belmore Street, but beautiful just the same. The local shops’ lights glowed in the downcast morning. The cobbled road was glistening with the rainfall. The storm was welcoming as it was refreshing.

He looked out his window to see the no longer vacant store directly across the street from his. The sign above the door said, Secondhand Prose. He gave a small smile. There hadn’t been a bookstore here in a long time.

Just as he was about to walk away from the front window, a lean figure in the rain caught his eye. It looked as though the man was trying to carry tons of boxes from a truck into his store. In the rain. With only a t-shirt on. He shook his head incredulously. But he looked upward again at the now downpour. He shifted his gaze back to the struggling man carrying what seemed to be a heavy box. Sirius muttered hateful words to himself as he put up his hood and stepped out into the storm.

He walked quickly across the uneven street. As the man walked out of the store, Sirius approached the truck. The man looked up at him, and Sirius’s steps faltered.

With hair dark with dripping water, a soaked through shirt, and glasses that weren’t helping him at this point, the man was a handsome mess. His warm gaze penetrated Sirius’s.

With the realization that he was staring at the stranger, Sirius cleared his throat, a flush creeping up his neck.

“I couldn’t help but watch your helpless attempt at moving all this shit,” he pointed over his shoulder at the numerous boxes sitting in the back of the truck. “Do you need any help?”

Surprise overcame his face, but looked at his feet and smiled shyly. “That would be great.”

Sirius tore his gaze from him and moved to the truck. It was piled to the brim with cardboard boxes. As leaned over to pick one up, he looked inside to see worn books. He noticed one of his favorites and picked it up.

“The Fountainhead. A brilliant book.” Sirius turned around to see the man standing just a few feet away. His gaze quickly snapped up and his cheeks flushed. Sirius couldn’t help but smirk at the fact that the man had been checking him out.

He gulped. “It’s groundbreaking.”

Sirius was about to agree when another box caught his eye, this one filled to the brim with CD’s. A familiar album cover was at the top of the pile, and he picked it up.

“Emotionalism? This album is incredible. Do you listen to them?”

Remus’s eyes brightened with passion and he grinned. “Track 10.”

They launched into a discussion about the album and the other music they listen to, somehow ending up discussing where they came from and where they longed to go. At some point, Sirius sat on the edge of the truck, Remus joining him, legs swinging back and forth, all the while the rain continuing to beat down on them as they continued to talk for what felt like hours, never once hitting an uncomfortable silence or an awkward topic. A tether seemed to form between the two men as they connected through words.

“We should probably finish up with these boxes,” Sirius nodded to the books behind him, reluctant to end their conversation.

After that, the two men danced around each other as they efficiently moved all the books into the new store. The rain conveniently stopped just as Sirius brought in the last box. He walked back outside where the man was sitting on the rear of the truck, reading a book. Sirius used this moment to look at him. His hair was nearly dry, and had a glorious golden hue in the curls. He was beautiful.

He looked up as Sirius approached and stood up.

“Thank you so much… I really appreciate your help. It would have taken me twice the amount of time to do all of that,” he waved his hand toward his store and chuckled.

“A handsome man in need of a white knight? My pleasure,” he shamelessly flirted.

The stranger blushed all the way down to his toes. “Er…thanks. Have – have a good day.” He abruptly turned his heel and practically ran into his shop.

Sirius swore at himself. He was so damn forward. He groaned and began walking back to Guns ’n Roses, sans a cute guy’s number.

It wasn’t until Sirius was inside his shop that he realized he never got his name.

He came back to the present to find James shaking his head at him.

“What happened to the Sirius Black I knew, the one who went after anything he wanted?”

“You know what happened to him.”

James tsked at him. “You can’t let one man ruin any chance for others. He was a complete asshole who treated you like scum. You’re better than him, mate. You’re better than what your family believes you to be; better than what you see yourself as.”

Sirius spared a glance at James, who was looking down at him with love.

“Is this the part where we hug?”

James scrunched up his nose and shoved Sirius back on the shoulder. They laughed together and Sirius retreated back to the counter. He picked out a peony from the vase and let out a deep breath. James grinned at his unusually nervous friend.

“Now go get some, my man!” James spanked his butt on the way out.

Needless to say, Sirius bruised his shoulder. Again.

*                      *                      *

A bell jingled as Sirius opened the door to the bookstore. Before he opened the door, however, he noticed a few Valentine’s themed books in the front window. Laughter bubbled up at the sight of erotic romances, and he continued into the shop.

Peering inside, a vintage looking shop with what looked like hundreds upon hundreds of bound words resting on wooden shelves stretching across the majority of the room met his eyes. Toward the back, he could make out a few overstuffed armchairs. He stepped inside and inhaled the scent of old paperbacks and freshly brewed coffee. Not having noticed before, he realized the small bar to the right. It was a bookstore café.

He walked in further, finding no one in sight. He bit his lip in anxiousness.

Was he even here?

Sirius strolled past the bookshelves, glancing into each aisle, but the man from a few weeks ago was nowhere to be found.

Finally, he got to the last shelf of classic novels. He looked down the narrow aisle between the books.

There he was.

Standing on a stool librarians often use, he was leafing through a gently used book. His untidy curls stuck up every which way, and his thickly framed glasses were on the verge of falling off his nose. And they weren’t covered with raindrops this time. Angled toward him, Sirius noticed his sweater. It was pink with a few sewn hearts on it for the holiday, he presumed. He was even more adorable than Sirius remembered.

The man shelved the book with satisfaction. He then stepped down to the box beside the stepping stool to pick up another book. As he grabbed the book and straightened, his gaze caught Sirius standing in the middle of the aisle. His eyes widened with surprise.

“Oh, hullo,” he said, self consciously running his hand through his golden hair, making it stick up even more.

“Hi, I don’t know if you remember, but I helped you move in a few days ago. I’m –”

“Sirius.” As soon as the man said it, he blushed furiously. “Er, your friend came in the other day and mentioned you owned the floral shop across the street.” The only coherent thought in Sirius’s head was, James went into a bookstore? Remus continued. “I figured it was you, seeing as you came in and out of the shop when you helped me that day, so I asked for your name. Did I thank you, by the way? It was really kind…” Sirius watched him with intrigue as he stumbled over his words.

When he finished his rambling, he simply stood there with bright eyes and tousled hair.

“I’m Remus Lupin, by the way. A bit of a late introduction, but …er –”

“Better late than never, Remus,” Sirius finished for him, grinning. Remus loved the way his velvet voice wrapped along the two syllables of his name.

They stood there for a few moments, looking at each other with anticipation.

“This is for you,” Sirius blurted out, reaching out and handing him the flower. Remus’s eyes softened and gladly took the peony.

“It’s beautiful, thank you. I, erm… I was actually just going to bring you something once I finished shelving,” he waved his arm at the pile of books behind him.

“You’re in luck. I’m quite a fan of surprises.”

Remus led him down the aisle, past the dozens of bookshelves, and to the café. Sirius followed him like a lost puppy.

Once they reached the café, Remus picked up a lone mug on the countertop. He turned around and held it out to Sirius. He looked at the cappuccino to see a dog paw designed with milk on the top.

“I saw you walking your dog past my store on Saturday, and well, I thought you’d like it.”

Sirius’s heart squeezed.

“I love it, it’s amazing … I actually came over here to ask you out.”

Not believing his ears, Remus tripped over his own feet as he took a clumsy step forward to hand the coffee to Sirius. Although he steadied himself from falling forward, the contents flew out of the mug and onto Sirius. And as if it were happening in slow motion, the hot liquid splattered Sirius’s white shirt, staining it a muddy brown color.

Remus’s eyes widened in horror.

Sirius looked down at his wet shirt, and back up at Remus’s horrified expression.

“Shit on a fucking stick! Bloody hell, I’m such a fucking wanker.” A long list of expletives shot out of Remus’s mouth.

And Sirius began laughing.

To his chagrin, Remus decided it was a good idea to grab a towel and begin dabbing at Sirius’s shirt with it. He began wiping at his stomach, not-so-subtly feeling his impressively hard muscles, then got to his knees and cleaned the coffee off of Sirius’s shoes and the floor.

“As much as I like the sight of you kneeling before me, I don’t think it’s doing much.”

Remus tilted his head up. Sirius was looking down at him with amusement and heat in his eyes.

Sirius bent down and got eye level with Remus. He grabbed his chin gently with two fingers.

“You’re the clumsiest, most adorable man I’ve ever met,” he whispered, leaning in until their lips almost met.

Before Sirius could move an inch further, Remus shot up on his feet.

“Er, we should… I-I have customers.”

Sirius stood up and looked around at the vacant bookstore and to the lone worker at the coffee bar who was on her phone.

“I think you could manage a five minute break.”

And with that, Sirius grabbed Remus’s pale hand in his warm one and led him out the door to the floral shop across the street.

Sirius held open the front door, extending his hand out to let Remus walk in first. “Gentlemen first.”

Remus walked into the store with Sirius behind him, and before Sirius could open his mouth to welcome and give him a tour, a flash of light blinded their eyes.

“What the fuck?”

Sirius blinked a few times to regain his vision, only to find James standing in front of them, camera poised in front his grinning face. Remus was looking at him, confusion written all over his face as he too readjusted his eyes.

“Aw, look at your faces.” He bought down the camera to look at the picture he just shot. He keenly resembled a proud parent on the night of prom. “You guys are such a cute couple.”

Sirius’s mouth hung wide open, disbelief and embarrassment written over his face. He crossed an arm around himself and hid his head in his heads, face palming his forehead very audibly, shaking his head in defeat.

Remus, on the other hand was smiling, amusement in his eyes. He gave James a small wave. “Nice to see you again, James. But, er, we aren’t exactly dating. We’ve really just been properly introduced.”

James waved him off. “Not yet you aren’t,” he winked suggestively.

Sirius lifted his head abruptly. “James,” he seethed, trying to remain pleasant. “Don’t you have to go do that thing?”

He tapped his chin thoughtfully and frowned. “I don’t think so, mate –”

But one look from Sirius had him running to the back.

Sirius was furious. James was a wonderful friend, no doubt. But he knew what Sirius had gone through with his previous relationship – the pain he had experienced after the man he loved cheated on him. Coming home from the jewelers, a newly bought engagement ring in his pocket. Calling out his name, his heart pounding in anticipation. Hearing sounds from their bedroom, and opening the door to see him fucking another man. Screaming and screaming and screaming until his voice was hoarse and his tears were nearly drowning him. Throwing the ring in his face. The betrayal. The heartbreak.

James knew. He witnessed it all – the breaking, the burning, the healing. He knew that Sirius thought he would never let someone in like that again; that he would never know what intimacy and love would feel like.

Three years gone. He had never been in a relationship since – never found a person that he could open himself up to. And now, with Remus, he felt like he could have that chance of happiness and love.

If James didn’t fuck it all up.

He turned around to face Remus, a long winded apology already on the tip of his tongue, but before he could get out a word, Remus took a long stride forward, wrapped Sirius in his arms, and kissed him, his lips soft and plush and fumbling.

Sirius, completely taken aback, had only one thought running through his mind. Remus is gay. I owe James ten bucks.

But that instantly vanished when he realized, Remus is kissing me.

Once his brain properly functioned, his lips curled into a warm smile and he began to properly kiss Remus back. His slightly shaky hand tentatively slid up to wrap around Remus’s neck, deepening the kiss. The other went around the man’s narrow waist, fingers tightening around his soft and oversized jumper, curling around the material to pull Remus closer to him.

They continued to kiss for what felt like hours. With their bodies pressed tight against one another, they were in their own cocoon of blissful heat. When Sirius pulled back slightly, his stormy eyes met Remus’s, whose were bright and warm like melted chocolate. He brought his hand up to cup Remus’s cheek tenderly, drinking in the flushed face, shy smile, and tousled hair.

“Can I just say something?” Sirius asked, breathless. A nod. “I am a fucked up man. I haven’t had a relationship in three years.” He shook his head, laughing a little. “You make me feel, Remus. I don’t know what it is about you. And I know we’ve only just met, and fucking hell this is cliché, but I feel like I’ve known you forever. Maybe it’s your taste in literature or your adorably crooked glasses, or maybe it’s the fact we connect in this way that I’ve never experienced. But I want to take this chance with you and risk being completely destroyed instead of wondering what could have been. So please take that chance with me because you are like no one I have ever met.” He exhaled a breath and quickly added, “It’s also a bonus that you’re incredibly handsome and witty.”

Remus laughed incredulously and merely nodded, whispering, “Yes.”

Sirius held up a finger, and ran over to the display case, picking up a single rose, and rushed back to Remus, holding it out to him.

He smiled, accepting the flower and pulled Sirius into him, kissing the life out of him.

From a passerby’s view in the cobbled streets, they would simply see two men in a tight embrace, their gazes never wavering.

Two lovers on Valentine’s Day.