Jumping up and down, biting down on my pillow while I wrestle my neighbor that came to complain about the noise that I'm making while running on my walls. EHEM I meant patiently waiting for the release date :batting eyelashes innocently:. Though I'm curious, how would the ROs react to an MC that's overly flirtratious but in a wet girl/boy/person loser kind of way + uses too many pick up lines/finger guns as a genuine way to flirt when nervous. Loving the premise for your if till now, it's been awhile I've loved all the ROs!!!
aw bonnie, i do hope your neighbour isnโt trying to write you a noise complaint now ๐ i need you to stay out of prison for the release date ๐๐ป
C LACROIX
you stood in front of them, wearing that ridiculous grin, eyes bright with a kind of nervous mischief that C had come to recognize too well. it was the prelude to something. and sure enough, it cameโfinger guns, of all things, pointed directly at them.
โare you french? โcause eiffel for you,โ you said, your voice wavering slightly, betraying the nervous energy they were trying so hard to mask with charm. you knew damn well C was indeed french, and then the worst partโthose finger guns again, paired with a wink that was so exaggerated it made their chest tighten in something like exasperated fondness.
C stared, a muscle in their jaw ticking. it shouldโve been infuriating. was infuriating. the way you seemed to lose all sense of dignity the moment you felt nervous, drowning in a sea of bad pick-up lines and gestures better suited for a caricature than a real person. but god, the way your lips curved up at the end of each line, the way you stumbled through your awkward attempts, as if trying to flirt was some kind of dangerous gameโ it was impossible to look away.
โreally?โ C raised an eyebrow, trying and failing to hide the faint amusement threading through their voice. โthatโs what youโre going with?โ
you blinked, clearly flustered, but doubled down. โyou knowโฆ if you were a vegetable, youโd be a cute-cumber.โ
C ran a hand down their face, trying to stifle the laugh threatening to break free. โyouโre terrible at this.โ
โyeah, well,โ MC shrugged, attempting to play it cool but visibly unraveling under Cโs gaze, โiโm not trying to impress you, or anything.โ
โreally?โ C stepped closer, and the temperature of the room seemed to shift. their pale green eyes flickered, sharp and predatory, and your breath hitched, the sudden proximity taking away any semblance of ease. โbecause youโre trying very hard not to look like youโre about to pass out.โ
your mouth opened, then shut again, your bravado failing you for a split second. your hand wavered in the air as if debating whether to throw out another absurd gesture, but you were frozen in place under Cโs intense stare.
C tilted their head, voice dropping into something darker, more amused. โdo you actually think those awful lines are working?โ
you swallowed hard. โwell, you havenโt walked away yet.โ
there it wasโthe loser charm, the half-baked attempt at deflection, the way you always seemed to bumble your way through these moments, as if too much self-awareness would be your undoing. and somehow, it was disarming. endearing, even. like a puzzle C couldnโt quite solve but found themself fascinated by all the same.
C stared at you for a moment, then blinked, a slow, deliberate thing. their lips quirked up, barelyโa ghost of a smile. โyouโre... utterly pathetic.โ
your lips twitched, trying for a smile but faltering. โand yetโฆ youโre still here.โ
Cโs gaze softened in a way they couldnโt control, something worryingly close to affection flickering behind their eyes. โi donโt know whether to kiss you or strangle you.โ
โhopefully the first one?โ your voice cracked just slightly, your attempt at humor failing as Cโs hand came up to gently brush a thumb across your cheek.
โgod, youโre hopeless,โ C murmured, their voice barely a breath between you now.
your eyes fluttered shut, as if waiting for C to close the distance, to turn this fumbling, awkward mess into something real. but C stayed where they were, hovering just inches away, savoring the tension.
โiโm trying, you know,โ you whispered, their voice softer now, less ridiculous, more honest. โi justโwhen iโm around you, i donโt know what to do. itโs likeโฆ my brain stops working.โ
C smiledโa rare, genuine thing that made the dimples on their cheeks prominent. it had your heart skipping a beat. โmaybe stop using finger guns next time.โ
you let out a shuddering laugh. โyeah, iโllโฆ work on that.โ
C tilted their head slightly, eyes tracing the curve of your lips. โyouโre lucky i like you.โ
you swallowed hard. โyou do?โ
C finally, finally closed the distance, pressing their lips to yours in a way that was both gentle and consuming, their hand curling around the back of your neck to pull you closer. when they pulled back, just barely, their voice was a low murmur against your mouth.
โyeah,โ C whispered. โi do.โ
V NรSHOLM
V stood there, their gaze flicking nervously between the floor and your face, the faintest blush painting their cheeks. they were always like thisโsoft-spoken, devout, painfully kind in ways that made you feel like a storm in comparison. and today was no exception. they watched with wide, uncertain eyes as you nervously lifted your hands, finger guns aimed directly at them.
โare you religious?โ you asked, your voice pitched higher than usual, betraying the nerves. โbecause youโre the answer to all my prayers.โ
it was ridiculous, really. childish and awkward, with a smile so forced that it threatened to shatter into laughter at any moment. you knew it. you could feel how stupid it all sounded. but when you got nervous, this was the only way you knew how to actโfilling the air with jokes, pick-up lines that clung too hard to the air between you and V, desperate for something solid to land on.
V blinked, their brow furrowing slightly like they werenโt sure how to respond. their fingers went instinctively to the small cross around their neck, clutching it like a lifeline, as if the gesture would tell them if you were losing your marbles. โum... thank you?โ
your grin wavered, and you swallowed hard. another one, then. you had to try another one.
โare you a magician, then? because when i look at you, everything else just disappears.โ you accompany that with a โpoofโ motion to add more flair.
Vโs breath caught in their throat, an embarrassed flush creeping up their neck, the kind of warmth that had no business being there. they blinked, staring at you like they were trying to make sense of a particularly difficult verse, something too foreign to easily translate. it wasnโt that they were hating itโno, it was something else entirely. something in them unfurled, but they couldnโt quite catch it, couldnโt grasp why.
you were fidgeting now, sensing the silence had stretched too long. โuhโฆ not good? iโve got more.โ
Vโs mouth twitched, something between a laugh and a sigh escaping them, though they quickly pressed their lips together. they didnโt want to be rude, didnโt want to laugh at you but how did they even respond to that?
โiโโ they hesitated, voice quiet and soft as always. โiโm not sure thatโsโฆโ
you shot them another look, and there it was again: the finger guns. โis your name google? because youโve got everything iโve been searching for.โ
yep, thatโll do it. V felt the warmth turn into something dangerously close to laughter, but they caught themself, biting down on the inside of their cheek. they didnโt want to encourage it, didnโt want to make you feel worse, but you were so earnest, so terribly bad at this, and yet so... you.
โiโโ V tried again, cheeks flushed deeper now, eyes darting away because they couldnโt look directly at you without the nervousness creeping up their spine. โi think youโreโโ they paused, unsure of the right words. kind? ridiculous? wonderful? none of it seemed right, and all of it seemed too much.
you were looking at them, a little too intently now, waiting for some kind of sign, some approval or rejection. you were always looking for something, even in your silliness, and V could feel that weight.
โdoes it ever work?โ Vโs voice was smaller now, their eyes dropping to the ground. โyou know, thoseโฆ lines?โ
your face lit up with a kind of hope that tugged at Vโs chest. โoh, absolutely not. not even once.โ
you said it so sincerely, so shamelessly, that V couldnโt help but laugh then, a quiet, breathy sound that made them immediately cover their mouth, as if theyโd broken some unwritten rule.
they shook their head, a smile creeping through their repressed amusement. โi donโt know what to do with you.โ
you shrugged, clearly a little embarrassed now but still holding onto that grin. โiโm trying. just, you knowโโ you vaguely do the motions of jazz hands, and V swore they could feel their heart jump while stifling a fit of giggles. โi get nervous, and thenโฆ this happens.โ
โi think itโs sweet,โ V said after a while, more sure of themself this time. โyou donโt have to be perfect all the time. not with me.โ
you let out a breath you didnโt know you were holding, and your grin softened, became something more honest. โyou think iโm sweet?โ
Vโs eyes flickered up to meet yours, the blush still warming their cheeks, but this time they didnโt look away. โyeah, i do.โ
you stared at them for a long moment, feeling that nervous energy dissolve, replaced by something far more terrifyingโa deep, aching tenderness you didnโt quite know how to express. you wanted to reach out, to touch Vโs hand, to offer something real instead of your usual barrage of corny jokes. but all you could manage was a quiet, โyouโre not so bad yourself.โ
V bursts out laughing again, and this time, you laughed with them.
W OSTENDORF
Wโs eyes, usually half-lidded with perpetual exhaustion, blinked in bewilderment as you approached them with an awkward bounce in your step. their sapphire gaze traced the way your fingers wavered, the unmistakable flourish of finger guns punctuating each hesitant attempt at flirtation.
โdo you believe in love at first sight, or should i walk by again?โ you asked, biting back the urge to laugh at yourself.
you watched as W blinked once, then twice, a momentary pause in their steady demeanor. they tilted their head slightly, considering you as if trying to figure out if you were serious. you were, in that embarrassing, frantic way only you could be.
the pick-up line hung in the air like an ill-fitting coat, and Wโs mouth twitched, unsure whether to laugh or sigh. the line was delivered with a clumsy earnestness that made Wโs heart ache, a mix of tenderness and exhaustion at the forefront of their expression. they rubbed a hand over their tired eyes, as if to clear away the fog of confusion that clung to them.
โum, no,โ W said softly, their voice nearly a murmur. โi donโt think thatโd be necessary.โ
your smile wavered, a shaky thing like a candle in a draft. you laughed, a sound that was too loud, too eager. โwell, thatโs okay. i guess it already worked the first time, right?โ
W swallowed hard, their gaze falling to the ground. if only you knew. but no matter, they thought about playing up the โexhausted and sleepyโ part so you wonโt mind their silence to that question.
before they could say anything, however, you piped up again. โif i could rearrange the alphabet, iโd put U and I together.โ
this time, W face started going red. they opened their mouth, closed it, and then opened it again, clearly unsure whether they should laugh or feel embarrassed on your behalf at this point. they had the air of someone caught in a sudden rainstorm, unprepared for the onslaught, trying to find cover but too polite to complain about getting wet.
your heart stuttered in your chest, unsure if you were supposed to be pleased by the way Wโs lips trembled in the smallest of smiles or if you should simply bury yourself in shame at the way theyโre turning red like theyโre holding in a laugh.
Wโs gaze dropped again, their thumbs rubbing nervously over each other. they smiled through their tiredness, but it was shy, careful, like they were afraid it might be taken the wrong way. โthatโd be nice. youโre nice.โ
and there it wasโthe words that always unraveled you the most. that delicate kindness, that indulgent air in W that made all of your jokes feel so hollow in comparison. you didnโt deserve someone like them, not with your clumsy attempts at flirting, not with the way you turned every silence into some absurd joke that made all the involved parties uncomfortably awkward.
you cleared your throat, but your voice cracked as you spoke again. โdo youโฆ do you have a map? because i keep getting lost in your eyes.โ
a pause. W bit their lip, their face now a full shade of ripe tomatoes, and they let out the faintest soundโa stifled laugh, maybe, or something close to it. โi donโtโฆ have a map.โ
your heart skipped a beat. it was working! or maybe it wasnโt, but W wasnโt running away. they were standing there, red-faced with the dark circles under their eyes, and you realized that for all your blundering, W wasnโt retreating. they stayed, almost frozen in place, a slightly amused flutter in their gaze but no sign of discomfort. maybe it wasnโt such a ridiculous plan after all.
โelmo?โ you asked, your voice quieter now, soft in the way you knew W preferred. โyouโre notโฆ mad at me, are you? for being like this?โ
W looked startled by the sudden change in tone, their demeanor turning protective. โmad? no, never. why would i be mad?โ
โbecause iโm such a loser around you. i always have been.โ your hands twitched, the shadow of finger guns hanging awkwardly in the air between you. โi thought youโd have gotten tired of me by now.โ
Wโs heart softened, the edges of their amusement fading in the presence of your vulnerability. โiโve never ever thought or felt like that. if iโm being honest, i think i even prefer this side of you at times.โ
you blinked, something anxious flickering in your eyes. โreally? i wouldnโt have guessed youโd have a thing for corny losers like me.โ
Wโs gaze softened even more, and before they knew it, they had reached out, their fingers gently brushing against your wrist, a tentative connection.
โi like you,โ they murmured, their voice soft and barely more than a whisper. โcheesy pick-up lines and all.โ
your breath caught, and for once, you didnโt have a quick response. instead, you stared at W with wide eyes, something genuine and quiet passing between you in the absence of words.
โyou donโt have to do anything,โ they whispered, โexcept stay.โ
D DIACONU
D watched you with that signature half-lidded stormy gray gaze, the one that always felt like it held a secret; as though they were privy to something no one else was. their arms are crossed loosely over their chest, a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of their mouth.
you, meanwhile, were fumbling. your usual bravery melted into something far less cool, your hands twitching in an exaggerated motionโfinger guns, of all things. D almost laughed then but swallowed it down, amused at the absurdity of it. this wasnโt their first time witnessing you stumble over your own feet, and it wouldnโt be the last, but there was something undeniably endearing about it, like watching a bird try to fly while forgetting it doesnโt have wings.
โare you from tennessee?โ you asked, your voice catching in the back of your throat. you shot the finger guns again, and D had to suppress an eye-roll at the cheesiness of it all. โbecause youโre the only ten i see.โ
D didnโt react immediately. instead, they watched you with careful precision, letting the silence hang just long enough to feel like a challenge.
โiโm from texas actually,โ Dโs voice was a low southern drawl, honeyed with amusement. โcommon mistake, eh?โ
you shifted nervously under their gaze, all the awkwardness evident in your stance.
โyeah, i know. i just... thought it was cute,โ you answered, almost defensively, your hands still hanging in midair, unsure what to do now that the moment was spiraling out of your control.
a quiet laugh slipped from Dโs lips, smooth as silk, barely more than a breath. they uncrossed their arms and stepped forward, closing the distance between you in a way that felt deliberate, dangerous.
โyou think this is how you get my attention?โ their voice was low, teasing, but there was a flicker of something that hinted at just how carefully D was watching your every move. โcute little lines and finger guns?โ
you flushed under the intensity of that stare, scrambling to regain control of the situation. โwell, iโ yeah, i thought maybe... it would work?โ you winced at your own words. god, could this get any worse?
D leaned in just close enough to make your pulse race. โyou think i go for cute?โ the words were laced with a challenge, a dare for you to keep going, to push past your limits.
you swallowed, every instinct telling you to back down, but instead, you doubled down on the only defense you knew.
โyou remind me of a dictionary,โ you grinned, forcing out another pick-up line, desperate to keep from crumbling under Dโs pinning stare, โbecause you really do add meaning to my life.โ
this time, D did laughโa rich, joyful sound that seemed to unravel the tension between you in one graceful swoop. they pulled back just enough to catch your eye, shaking their head in disbelief. โyou really donโt know when to quit, do you?โ
your face burned with embarrassment, but there was a flicker of something softer beneath all the practiced allure and playful flirtations. they werenโt mocking you, not really. in fact, there was a hint of appreciation buried in their amusement, a quiet acknowledgment that you, as ridiculous as you were, had managed to catch their attention in a way nobody else could.
Dโs fingers brushed lightly against your wrist, the touch fleeting but electric. โyouโre lucky i find this... entertaining. otherwise, youโd be in way over your head.โ
you blinked, thrown by the sudden shift in energy. you opened your mouth to respond, but Dโs hand was already moving, their fingers ghosting up your arm in a way that left you breathless, speechless.
โi think,โ D continued, their voice almost a whisper now, โi like watching you try. youโre terrible at it, no doubt about that, but... thereโs something about the way you stumble through it.โ their eyes locked onto yours, something unreadable flickering in the depths of their gaze. โiโve never met someone like you. that much, i can admit.โ
you felt your heart skip a beat, your words catching in your throat. all the cheesy pick-up lines, the awkward flirtingโnone of it seemed to matter anymore, not under the affection in Dโs gaze, not when they were standing so close that it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of you.
โmaybe iโm just a uniquely jumbled mess,โ you muttered, your voice barely audible, but Dโs hand slid up to cup your cheek, pulling you closer with a softness that was almost unnerving.
โyou definitely are, dragฤ mea,โ D agreed, their lips ghosting over yours, so close that it felt like a kiss, but not quite. โbut itโs one of the little things i like about you.โ
and with that, they kissed you, slow and deliberate, like theyโd been waiting for this moment longer than theyโd ever let on. you melted into them, every nerve alight, the awkwardness and self-doubt slipping away in the warmth of Dโs touch. this, right here, was what youโd been gunning for all along.
M WHITLOCK-SINGH
M had never known someone quite like you. there was something so bafflingly endearing about you, as if you existed to disrupt Vโs neatly ordered world with your awkward charm and unbearable nervousness. it wasnโt that you meant to do so, but the way you flirtedโif you could even call it thatโmade Mโs head spin despite their usual stoicism.
they could see it coming a mile away, the way your eyes darted from the floor to Mโs face and back again, like you were gathering the courage to throw yourself off a cliff. and then it happened.
your finger guns shot up, aimed clumsily at a literal heir to the british throne. โwell, here i am. what were your other two wishes?โ
M blinked, incredulity washing over them. seriously? again?
there was a moment of silence that hung heavy in the air, before you, still flustered, tried again. โif you were a fruit, youโd be a fine-apple.โ
M sighed, pressing the heels of their palms to their eyes. it was like being trapped in a bad dream, except it wasnโt bad, not really. it was you, standing there, losing your composure in a way that made you seem so painfully human. so vulnerable.
โyouโve got to be kidding me.โ Mโs voice was low, restrained, an edge of amusement barely detectable. they crossed their arms, leveling you with a look that was part disbelief, part... something else. โis this really your idea of flirting?โ
you winced, but it was clear you were trying to save face. โwhat, do they not like compliments in england?โ
โcompliments?โ Mโs laugh was sharp, but not exactly mocking. โyouโre telling me those were compliments?โ
โokay, maybe not my best,โ you admitted, rubbing the back of your neck, your voice dropping into something that sounded closer to sincerity. โbutโฆ i mean, youโre kind of distracting, your majesty. you canโt really blame me.โ
W narrowed their eyes to hide their barely suppressed delight, studying the way you fidgeted, the way your hands couldnโt seem to stay still. it was always like thisโyou trying so hard to be smooth, to make M smile with these ridiculous pick-up lines that felt like they belonged in a teen rom-com from the 90s and early 2000s.
โdistracting?โ M repeated, taking a step closer, watching as your breath stuttered. โhow so?โ
you swallowed, eyes wide, trying to keep it together. โlikeโฆ you knowโฆ hard to think straight.โ
a beat passed, and then M did something unexpectedโthey laughed. a soft, surprised sound that felt different from their usually polite, regal chuckle. and yet, it somehow sounded better. you blinked, as if unsure whether to be relieved or even more nervous.
โbefore i met you, i never thought iโd see the day,โ M murmured, stepping even closer, the laughter settling into a smile, โwhen someone would try to flirt with me using finger guns.โ
you smiled back, sheepish but hopeful. โwell, i aim to please you with my moves. call me twinkle-toes.โ
M shook their head, but the smile that tugged at the corners of their mouth betrayed them. they didnโt want to admit it, but something about the whole thingโthe terrible pick-up lines, the way you stumbled over your words, the sheer awkwardness of itโwas getting to them. softening them, in a way nothing else had.
โyouโre a bumbling idiot,โ V said quietly, but there was no malice in it. just a strange sort of fondness.
you started to grin. โbut iโm your bumbling idiot, right?โ
โmaybe,โ M whispered, voice like a velvet secret. โbut iโd suggest you not throw those words so loudly in public.โ
your laugh was shaky, but real. โnoted. iโllโuh, keep that in mind, your highness.โ
M smiled softly, warmth flickering in their chest despite themself. โjust call me by my name, meri jaan. iโd prefer it more right now.โ
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