#elara cessair

[rosietrace]

❤️ For any of our ships pookie??

HELLO HELLO, MERCIE WERCIE 😍

Gonna do our brainrot worthy ship for this one 😈 which one /hj

Loyal Knight, Lawful Lady

Character Featured: Alliette Nepenthe (Pseudonym)

Mentioned: Noriko Dolion, Elara Cessair, Haruka Solis, Themis(the latter ocs belong to @geminiiviolets)

Pairing: Noriko Dolion & Alliette Nepenthe

Warning(s): Alliette is unreleased (and it isn't even her real name), Etteilla spoilers… Technically?::!?:, devotion and loyalty are a BITCH, I am mentally un-okay with these two; you don't understand-

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

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╔══ஓ๑†๑ஓ══╗

Loving the Knight

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↳ From Five to One

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Five — Their combat prowess

➜ “Most impressive, Nori is…. We often spar together, in fact, he's one of the first people I consider whenever I wish to… Improve my combat prowess.”

➜ Sparring tends to be a regular thing between the two of them. For the most part, most members of Etteilla tend to find them within the estate's forests, sparring to their heart's content.

➜ As strange, or… Unorthodox as it might sound, it always seems like they're dancing whenever they do that. Them, their bodies occasionally brushing against each other — the only thing separating them being their blades.

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Four — Their Lack of Emotion

➜ “Call me unusual all you want. But in my opinion, Nori’s lack of emotion adds to their character. Elara seems to find it amusing, as well, so I don't see why it's ‘weird’.”

➜ Unlike some of the rest of the members of Etteilla, Alliette finds amusement in Noriko's lack of emotion — and by proxy, their lack of a sense of humor.

↳ It's something she and Elara can find common ground in, outside of their constant mental chess games.

➜ Noriko doesn't quite understand his Mistress, and Elara even more so…. Oh well.

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Three — Their Devotion

➜ “Nori…. Their devotion, their loyalty, is a most admirable trait of theirs. Though others in the group may disagree, I find it to be a strong suit of his.”

➜ Noriko's loyalty, his absolute devotion to Alliette is one of many things she (loves) admires about him. It can go to a point where she's enabling a potentially unhealthy obsession, but honestly… Obsession? Loyalty?

➜ Isn't that the same thing?

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ Two — Their Smile

➜ “Nori’s lack of emotion can be amusing, yes…. But I can't help but get lost whenever I see them smiling. Smiling during the winter, smiling at…. Me…”

➜ Alliette adores their smile, truly. It never fails to make her smile, and it seems — in moments where the two are alone — they stare at each other, perhaps for longer than they needed to.

➜ Oh, but that's just normal!.... Right..?

˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥ One — Their Trust in Her

➜ “Trust…. Devotion…. Loyalty… To me, they're all the same. But with Nori…. With Nori, it feels different. It feels… More than uplifting.”

➜ Alliette adores Noriko for a great many things. So much so that I can't even list everything down.

➜ But what she adores, what she loves most about Noriko; Is their absolute trust in her.

➜ Though their devotion to her is…. Questionable, no one in Etteilla can deny just how much Noriko loves her. How much they simply want their Mistress to be happy and accepting of herself.

➜ They will do anything, anything, she asks of them. If it means that their Mistress is satisfied — and happy — by the end of it all, Noriko will be under the firm belief that their efforts were worth it.

➜ Because in all likelihood: They were.

➜ Alliette finds amusement and personal qualms about Noriko's loyalty — yes.

➜ That much is certain. But what can't be certain is just how far she's willing to go if it means that Noriko can understand that their trust in her isn't mostly misplaced.

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ「♢」

「 Short Story 」

↳ This short story is by no means, a spoiler for「 Twisted Wonderland: Project A.V.A 」

“I find their request rather unnecessary, My Lady.”

“Is it because it genuinely is,” she turned her head to him. “Or because you don't trust Elara's judgment?”

Noriko grimaced at her question. “Her suggestions aren't what I'd find recommendable…”

“You have a point there, Nori,” Alliette sighed to herself. “Alas…. We don't have many options. Tell me something.”

“Anything, My Lady.”

“Would you prefer Elara's judgment, or Haruka's?”

Noriko paused, unsure of how to answer, before concluding that they should just narrow their eyes at her.

“Themis’ judgment, clearly.”

Her smile returned, softer, sweeter.

“Correct.”

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[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 ]

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“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.”

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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]

『 “Just one dance..” 』

| Noriko Dolion and Victoria Shard | ⚖️ + 🪞 |

✎ᝰ. synopsis : One dance wouldn't hurt, right? Well, sometimes a person can be right and wrong.

✎ᝰ. content warnings : none, unless you count Elara trying to play matchmaker, slightly suggestive near the end(?)

✎ᝰ. genre : romance, fan event fic, fluff

( ˚₊· ͟͟͞➳❥) a/n: Dare I say, I cooked with this one chat /j /j (The lines between romantic and platonic are so blurry,,,,)

✎ᝰ. : reblogs > likes

“Stop being a coward and dance with her already.”

Elara may as well start to drop to her knees and vomit on the floor over the sight of Noriko staring longingly at little miss perfectionist in the distance— the woman in question unsurprisingly appetizing on, what, her fifth slice of chocolate cake for the night?

“Stop with the longing glances and get on with it, Noriko…” she grumbled in favor of her impatience; one more minute of Noriko's incessant looks of lovesickness and Elara's gonna rip her hair out to distract from the second hand embarrassment.

Noticing that Noriko was very clearly not hearing a word she was saying, Elara took a few extra precautions until she had their full, completely undivided attention.

Snapping her fingers once or twice; poking them by the shoulder; the short-lived wave of her hand over his face.

Alas, all efforts ended fruitlessly. And so, Elara Cessair — lunar starlet wearing stolen stars across her body — simply did what any other logical person would do in this predicament.

Smack them over the head, of course!

Noriko hissed, swiftly whipping their head in Elara’s direction with a piercing glare that made her eyebrows shoot up.

If looks could kill, Elara thought and felt almost impressed and even proud with Noriko's endeavors in making their irritation known to her. then I'd be dead in no time.

Probably not the best option to get Noriko to act agreeable, but what's a girl to do outside of taking matters into her own hands?

“Elara…” Noriko said her name in a low grunt, one of their eyes mostly obscured by that ridiculous fringe of theirs. They really needed a haircut.

Noriko's ugly bangs aside, Elara gave the trusted knight her brightest and most playful of crooning, mocking smirks. “Aw, what's that look for, Nori? Little ol’ me was just trying to grab your attention.”

“That doesn't justify you feeling the need to hit me over the head.”

“Hmm, well to me, it does.”

“No wonder.”

“Agree to disagree.” Elara waved a dismissive hand, shifting from one topic to the next like a ballerina leaping across the stage. “For once, Nori, I'm not just grabbing your attention for the sake of annoying you.”

Noriko looked up at the ceiling for a second, maybe a couple more; a deliberate tactic into holding back a proper eye roll while Elara and them were currently conversing.

“Then what is it?” Based on Elara's sardonic little smirk, Noriko wanted to guess that it would hardly do them any favors.

“I'm just trying to help you, Nori,” said Elara, soon making a subtle nod towards the direction Victoria currently was.

Now the poised little heiress was eating cake no longer, instead having a possibly boring conversation with some random glutton in navy blue about god knows what. Whatever they were talking about, it would be too boring for Elara's tastes.

Noriko didn't even have to look at where Elara was nodding at to know what she meant. He huffed. “I don't like where this is going, Cessair.”

Elara did what Noriko refrained from doing earlier as a reply: a roll of her eyes and an exasperated response. “Ugh, you're acting like I'm gonna convince you to get down on one knee and propose to her…”

“Sevens above– Are you listening to what you're saying?”

“What? It's not like you wouldn't.”

“My love life”— Or lack thereof, Elara thought with a barely contained snort —“Isn’t any of your business, Cessair.”

“I’m just asking you to dance with her.”

“... I don't quite follow.”

Of course you don't, Elara scoffed. “Her. Victoria. Little miss perfectionist in her pretty blue dress with an open crinoline and the tiny top hat?”

“What about her.”

“I swear to– Dance. With. Her.”

Noriko folded their arms across their chest. “I'd prefer not to.” Terribly lovesick, woefully stubborn with a face perfectly suitable for punching. Best description she's thought of for them yet.

“And I'd prefer to seal your mouth shut with wax so you don't give out an entire sermon on how accomplished she is.” deadpanned Elara. “But unfortunately for you, Noriko, we can't have everything we want in life.”

Noriko countered, if they were offended by what Elara said, they didn't show it. “I'm not well-versed in dancing.”

“You think that's my problem?” She could only hold back a shrieking cackle at the thought. “I don't care! My job is to get you and purple plum to kiss and do all the mushy shit couples do. I'm sick of the longing glances and carefully crafted catchphrases.”

“You can't just expect me to waltz with her with little to no dance knowledge…” Noriko murmured, appalled but not entirely bewildered.

“That isn't stopping Kit and goody-goody Ella.” Those were very clearly not the actual names of the two individuals Elara was referencing to Noriko, but she didn't bother to correct herself.

What mattered, was that while the former — this Kit — seemed absolutely inept on the dancefloor, he at least had the guts Noriko seemed to lack to actually give it a shot.

Noriko didn't seem to be taking her claims too seriously, and Elara's patience with the dense imbecile of a knight had been growing thin for the entire evening.

“It’s a dance, Noriko. You'll get the hang of it, trust me.”

“And so my doubt increases. I'm almost in disbelief at your faith in my abilities on the dancefloor.”

“Oh, I have zero faith. I just know that you don't wanna look like a screwup in front of your perfect violet lady.”

“That's–” Noriko quieted down, losing any hint of what he had to say next upon the arched eyebrow Elara had given him in return. “... that isn't the point, and my point still stands. I'd only make a fool out of myself in front of her.”

They looked almost… embarrassed even admitting that. But it was a truth, Noriko's truth anyway. With clenched fists and a lowered head looking at the floor tiles to their left, the treasured knight of Victoria Shard only showed this much vulnerability when it came to her.

Not that Elara seemed to care enough to try and play motivational speaker and give him some much needed words of encouragement.

Instead, Elara thought: I really have to do everything myself, huh? And she gripped Noriko by their shoulders, turning them around and pushing them closer and closer to Victoria.

Startled, Noriko hissed, trying to get Elara to stop. “Cessair–!”

“Victoria!” Elara called out, stepping over Noriko's foot to silence them of their words until she and their lady love finished a small unimportant chitchat.

“That cheery tone usually isn't a good sign,” said Victoria. She leaned against the dessert table, her head tilted to one side as she assessed Elara and gave a sympathetic smile to Elara's ‘captive’ in tandem. “What is it that you want, Elara?”

“Oh, I'm not open to sharing right now,” Elara laughed heartily, so performative and lovely and pleasant that it came to no surprise it became a confirmation to Victoria that the lunar starlet was up to something.

That never ends well, the expression on Victoria's face seemed to say. With a soft sigh, her hands gently moved Elara's off of Noriko's shoulders.

Victoria looked away for a second, and much to her (lack of) surprise, Elara was already gone. Although she only responded to the swift escape with an amused laugh.

Noriko however, was not as amused. “Do you think she finds most entertainment out of making a fool out of me?”

“The likelihood is high,” Victoria said, glancing back at Noriko with a hand over her hip. “But Elara is a woman of many secrets, with many forms of entertainment keeping her from doing anything rash.”

“Uh huh.” Though the frown on their face remained ever present, it softened. It always did around Victoria, he never tried to make it subtle.

Subtle never sold well with Noriko. He could never grasp it as well as he'd hoped to.

As one circle of dancers depart from the ballroom centerpiece, soon a new sphere emerges with energy and vibrance for a night so…

“It's hard to describe tonight.” Victoria admitted that sliver of truth to them, staring almost fondly at the blown crystal chandelier looming over them all. Its combination of pearls and crystals calling to mind a contrast to the usual flair Night Raven college had to offer.

Noriko couldn't help but agree. “Indeed… I'm quite surprised most of our classmates have decided to be civil for tonight.”

“Agreed. You'd think the rowdier bunch would start causing mischief..”

“Well for the most part, they're keeping it tame. But it won't take long until someone like Elara decides to ‘shake things up’”— in air quotes, naturally —“just for their own entertainment.”

“Pity. I would've enjoyed a more calming atmosphere. But so far, I think I'm getting what I'm asking for.”

As did Noriko. He looked down at the hand kept to Victoria's side, nicely manicured yet calloused in certain edges. Yet with all his hesitancy, there was still a side of him that asked, What happens if I move closer?

They didn't dare put that to the test. Victoria had a fondness for them, sure, but when it came to a woman like her? You never know when the trust she has in you is gonna start dwindling away like a dandelion's pappus on a windy afternoon.

She was kind when she wanted to be; a smile as pure as the voices of a church chorus, a hug you never wished to part from. But he knew the other side. The side she barely talked about when around him. You never knew when you'd start to become less useful to her— it would always enter like an unwelcome guest.

Complicated, she was. Still, Noriko adored her so, worshiped the ground she walked on like she was Venus reborn from her seafoam, sanctioning to him and her loyal subjects as to what they can, could, and never do to please her.

“Would you like to dance?”

The question took a hit at Noriko's thoughts, a train nailing a strike over them at the railways until nothing else but a battered, bruised, and barely alive body remained.

“H… What?” They thought they'd heard her wrong. But the look on her face said it all.

They hadn't. “Would you like to dance?” She repeated, the offer still open for Noriko to accept. “I know it might seem a little bit… nerve-wracking, but dance has its merits in helping one boost their confidence. It can certainly bring two people closer together.”

“Well, that's the point of it.” Militaristic and stiff, Noriko tucked their hands behind their back, refraining from allowing Victoria to catch them in the act of fidgeting with their hands.

Victoria knew. She always knew, and it fascinated Noriko in one instance, and frustrated him the next. And by all he damned, that one knowing phantom of a curved upward lip from her felt like a million bright grins from a million others.

She extended a hand to his. “Humor me? Just this once?”

More than once, they'd corrected her. More times than they could count they'd indulged her, humored her. And they'd continue to until the day they die.

Their hand grasped hers, and he guided her to the dancefloor the way any loyal man would for their lady.

Victoria quickly realized that while Noriko held many strengths, none of them include dancing. Not that she minded, in fact, she found it a little (more than a little) endearing.

Thoughtfully, Victoria set a slower pace to their dance, slowly counting beneath her breath to guide him the entire way— slower than the circle of dancers around them.

“... I–”

“Shhh,” Victoria pressed a quick, soft finger against Noriko's lips. She wore a gentle ghost of a smile, pleasant and practiced. “Eyes on me.”

Noriko's lips pursed against her finger. “I am afraid of stepping on your toes.”

“So long as you follow my lead, Nori, I find doubt in that assumption.”

“Formidable as you are, my lady, I dread the thought of harming you in any way.”

She blurted through an unexpected chuckle, the edges of her lips curving upwards. “Then you are most considerate.”

Noriko swallowed, trying to keep their eyes on her — solely on her — and trying to keep his mind astray from the lingering thought of stepping over her foot, more than once.

She flinched when that moment came. Noriko was more than ready to apologize, to beg for forgiveness— but all he could comprehend in the end was her devastating smile, the shine in her eyes and the calm, tender assurance that it was okay.

“My lady…”

“Apologies are not needed, Nori.”

“You are much too kind, my lady,” Noriko muttered softly, looking back at her from beneath his lashes.

She looked back at him, almost considering his words, as though there was a chance that what he was declaring was wrong.

Much too adoring, her eyes suggested. Much too kind.

She changed the subject, faster than a stroke of lightning hitting against a pavement. “You needn't express shame for a needless mistake. Your actions will have no echo, dearest Nori.”

“All it takes is a little practice. It might not be that way for some, but it can be of use as a starting point.”

Noriko looked from her, to a million other things around them all at once. Before he gave her a stiff, hesitant nod and resumed the dance.

It was embarrassing. A knight so gifted in the art of combat; so graceful with a sword, yet the moment it isn't in their hands, they're an awkward, distressed mess. Humiliating.

But humility had its own way of feeling comforting; An endless reminder to Noriko that they were no more powerful than anyone else in this academy. As much as they wanted to ignore it, he knew that individuals like Malleus, and the woman he was dancing with now were powerful in ways that were impossible to ignore.

Victoria encouraged them to count in their head, if not beneath their breath. To keep track, and keep score of every step they took as they danced; to remind himself to not move too slow, nor too quick.

From the corner of Noriko's eye, they saw Elara's effervescent and noctilucent smirk. It irritated them every time they saw it, and unconsciously, just the sight of Elara Cessair’s amusement urged him to pull Victoria closer to his chest.

Her eyebrows raised heavenward, half startled, half entertained. “Nori…?”

He didn't seem to hear her calling, only grumbling a quick, “Of course Elara's watching…” Ah. So that was it. It almost made Victoria shake with mirth.

“You need not concern yourself over her leisures, Nori.”

“I certainly don't find enjoyment in her watching us.”

She huffed through her nose, rolling her eyes. “Sure, sure. But that can't be helped with Elara, can it?”

She spun under their hold, so graceful and glamorous like a fine jewel. The finest of jewels; treasured, and lovely, and shining brighter than any star.

No star could measure up to her.

To his surprise, Noriko found himself relishing in what the night had to offer along with her, both his hands finding their way to her waist— lifting her up and spinning her around as though she weighed nothing.

At the slightest stumble, the step that took off too fast, there was no embarrassment to be had. Only wide eyes, wider smiles, and laughter that echoed about the room— drowned out, just barely, by the band of musicians playing and strumming their instruments to make music to dance to.

In any other circumstances, Noriko would've toppled over themselves at the number of eyes coming their way, the longer they danced. But how could they focus on that when Victoria's eyes stared back at theirs with something almost comparable to affection?

“The moon is beautiful, isn't it?”

Noriko's face flushed. “My lady…”

“What?” She gently nudged them by their side, chuckling softly. “I was merely stating an observation.”

“I dare not question where you're getting pickup lines from.”

“If I say some of them were suggestions from Elara, what would you say?”

“No comment.” He turned his head away, hiding the flush of his cheeks from her assessing gaze. A gaze he'd come to love all too much.

Victoria felt bolder this time around, this night. She leaned against the stone railing of the balcony, her eyes continuing to settle on Noriko— watching silently.

In the moments where she wasn't turning to face them, Noriko would do the same to her; watching her, admiring her in the same vein as her admiring the moon.

He loved it, lived for it. And for her, he'd promise to let himself live a little longer too.

Then she caught him in the act. He recoiled. Noriko's body went unnaturally still that if he'd been painted gray, he'd fit right in with the gargoyles and grotesques sitting among the academy grounds.

“You were staring,” Victoria teased. “But pray tell, may I ask why?”

“Please don't…” Noriko pleaded in reflex, much to his own chagrin. Cursing himself beneath his breath for blurting that out, he pantomimed zipping his mouth clean shut.

“Nori…” she sang out the term of endearment, stepping closer to them — nearly closing that distance — and taking their hands in hers.

“—!” By the sevens, they must've looked redder than Riddle in a bad mood, weren't they?

“You're hiding something from me.” Victoria mused that out, her voice a whisper of a thousand songs Noriko never wanted to end. “Yet you do not seem to tell me about whatever is plaguing your mind.”

“I-I…”

“Do you… dislike me, Nori–”

“Of course not!”

They hadn't meant to pull her in, their bodies standing flush against the others; the stars watched them, as did the gleaming jewel they both called a moon— Elara's symbol, ethereal and illuminating, and most mocking indeed.

Noriko couldn't back out. Not now. “My lady, my Victoria, I…” sevens above, he can barely get a few words out. What kind of man was he??

Victoria waited patiently, her fingers intertwining with his all too perfectly together. “You…?” She prompted, unmeaningly leaning her face closer to his.

“... You are everything, all at once. A tidal wave, a blazing inferno, and whirlwind. As longingly as I wish to speak as though you glowed as brightly as this moonless night, not even that would be enough to compare to you.”

One hand slipped from her hold, reaching out to her cheek and tracing her face, the outline of her jaw. Her lips.

Victoria stared differently at Noriko now. Somehow there'd been enough space between them that when she took that final step— it was as if all air had been sucked right out of Noriko's body.

Beautiful, said he in the back of his head; filled with images of her, of the memories they both shared, at the wishes he'd wish he could fulfill.

One wish he'd hope would come true, finally happening right this very second.

Victoria leaned into the touch of their hand, her palms soon making contact with the sides of their face. Their noses brushed.

Noriko stood still, awfully still and horribly depraved of any air in their lungs… metaphorically.

“What are you thinking about?” The question almost didn't register to them until a mere second after she'd spoken. Noriko stared at her — continued to stare at her — just not at her face.

Not at her eyes, at all.

Their forehead pressed against hers. “A… a lot of things, my lady.”

“What is it that you want, Nori?”

“I can't… can't say it.”

“But why?” There was an ache at the apex of Noriko's heart at the gut wrenching look of concern in her face, in her eyes. Those gorgeous eyes; an abyss of dark sapphire gleaming against the light of the moon floating above.

The heart is an arrow, Noriko thought of that saying he'd heard one too many times, a memory from a remnant of a life without her in it. and it demands to aim true.

“What's stopping you, Nori?”

“Myself, my lady, I– I want… I want–”

It killed them to say it. But perhaps deep down, she'd known all along. Perhaps she didn't. It was too late to contemplate that.

Noriko inhaled deeply, stealing back the air of which was stolen from them every time Victoria looked at them like that. “I want… I want you.”

A jagged breath, one of utter relief, left her lips before she leaned in. Capturing his lips with hers, and wrapping her arms all around him. Unbecoming, uncharacteristic. Perfect.

Noriko regretted that he'd wasted so much of his time processing the press of her lips against his. He wasted that time no longer. One hand on the underside of her chin, tilting her head up to deepen this pleasure they'd indulged in; the other wrapped tight around her waist.

“I've loved you much too quietly, my lady–” Noriko muttered through panting breaths, ripe with emotion with a throat all too dry and hoarse.

“Then speak your truth, Noriko…” Her back met the curve of the balcony railing, feeling Noriko's hand trailing up so as to not be caught in-between.

Eyes half-lidded, face flushed in a heaven-like daze, Noriko could only say next, “I will have you.”

“You will have me.” Victoria nodded with a half-smile, slowly forming a dazzling grin when her hands traced the outline of Noriko's jaw. “With or without my armor.”

That would be all she asked of them. And it would take an act of God for Noriko not to indulge.

She closed her eyes just in time for Noriko to kiss the lids, and opened them just enough — and just in time — to see them to stare back at her lips.

“With or without your armor.”

⟨ Bonus!! ⟩

“So… I take it you had a fun night, Nori?”

“Not another word out of you, Cessair.”

“Oh I have plenty of words to say after the previous night. You were enjoying yourself a little too much over there in that balcony with Vic, hmm?”

“You're a prude.”

“Hey now, I'm not the one who devoured Victoria Shard's pretty lips like she was my last meal.”

“Get out of my dorm.”

“Fine. Tell your queen of hearts I give her my gratitude to deal with your boring ass.”

“Housewarden Rosehearts–?”

“No! Ugh, what does Vic even see in you??”

【 Taglist / Credits 】

↳ In order of OC appearances/mentions

Elara Cessair – @/terrovaniadorm

Noriko Dolion – @hallowed-delights · @terrovaniadorm

Victoria Shard – Me 😈

“Some random glutton” (Miren Lockhart) – @authoruio

“Ella” (Gwendolyn Schnee) – @starry-night-rose

“Kit” (Roya Callistis) – Also Me 😈

@jasdiary | @fumikomiyasaki | @sakuramidnight15 | @twsted-princess | @geminiiviolets | @lueerhythm | @absolutelyobsessedkiya · @twistedsongstressofstarz | @spadecentral | @crazyyanderefangirlfan

[rosietrace]

Never Loud, Never Quiet

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

Others Featured: Riddle Rosehearts, Keres Perrault, Deuce Spade, Elara Cessair, Jade Leech, Malleus Draconia (mentioned)

Pairing: Victoria Shard x Noriko Dolion

Synopsis: In which Noriko genuinely can't stop talking about a certain fae from Pomefiore.

Warning(s): Spoilers(??) for a specific main story, subtle literally just one hints towards 「 Twisted Wonderland: Project AVA 」, Noriko is a simp, Victoria unintentionally enables their clownery, Elara, Malleus is his own warning /j /j

[ Apologies for any out of character moments ]

[ Reblogs > Likes ]

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

“For seven's sake, Noriko, pay more attention to painting the roses, you're distracting your underclassmen…”

“Apologies, housewarden.”

Riddle sent Noriko a look of clear, potent, exasperation. Holding his scepter in his hands, he lightly tapped Noriko's back with its blunt end.

“I understand your admiration for Miss Shard, she is a well-accomplished diplomat,” Riddle sighed. “However-”

“Lady Victoria's actually much more than a well-accomplished diplomat, housewarden Rosehearts,” Noriko finished painting one rose and proceeded to paint the next. “In fact, she's an officially licensed knight. Did you know she was officially knighted by the Queen of the Queendom of Roses at just the age-”

“Silence,” Riddle ran a hand through his hair, making sure to be at a considerable distance from Noriko.

Keres had recently returned from running another errand from Crowley and happened to notice the fatigued expression on Riddle's face.

“Are you quite alright, housewarden?” They asked, slightly nervous yet nevertheless concerned. “You appear rather… Err…. Parched.”

Riddle exhaled, his head tilting up and breathing in the fresh air. It took about 5 minutes for him to get himself together before he could reply.

“I'm fine, Keres,” The look of exasperation on Riddle's face said otherwise.

Deuce laughed awkwardly, walking past Keres to head to tend to the hedgehog's outside of the rose maze.

“I'd suggest keeping a safe distance from a certain someone for a bit,” he mumbled to Keres offhandedly, nodding his head toward Noriko before walking off.

Upon noticing that Deuce was referring to Noriko, Keres sighed heavily.

“Suddenly everything makes sense…” They muttered. They ended up receiving another call from Crowley for another errand, and unfortunately, Keres had less time to judge Noriko than to do work Crowley didn't wanna do.

For whatever reason, Noriko had an almost disturbing attachment to Victoria Shard of Pomefiore, of all people.

The young man and Pomefiore's ‘almost housewarden’ got along incredibly well, seemingly attached to the hip. Noriko's loyalty to the woman was often considered worrying to their peers; yet they paid no mind to their opinions in regards to their loyalty.

Noriko climbed down the ladder after finishing their task of painting the roses and later received a text.

They furrowed their eyebrows. Elara…

Nuisance number 18: Come to Octavinelle, we gotta talk.

“Whatever could she want to talk about?” He huffed, putting his phone in his pocket. “It better be something noteworthy…”

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

“You need to be sent to a mental institution.”

Noriko blinked. Of all things, Elara could say when they arrived at Octavinelle, that was how she greeted them.

They narrowed their eyes. “I don't quite follow,” Noriko folded their arms over their chest. “You said you wanted to talk about something, so talk.”

Offhandedly, they looked down at the ground, thinking of a certain someone. “... I have somewhere to be, later.”

Elara snorted. “Don't worry Nori-”

“Don't call me that.” Noriko shut her down in less than a millisecond.

Elara smirked, a hand on her hip. “Like I said, don't worry,” her other hand was waving around carelessly. “All I want is to discuss your little relationship with Little Miss Perfectionist.”

The blue-haired knight could recognize who that nickname was for in a heartbeat. “What about me and Lady Victoria?”

Elara's smirk widened. “Remember what I said about you needing to be sent to a mental institution? That's what I meant.”

“What does that have to do with my relationship with Lady Victoria?”

“Everything.”

“Pardon?”

Elara hummed. “What I mean is that you, Mr. Loyalty Incarnate, are obsessed.”

“I'm not,” Noriko frowned. “I am merely loyal to the woman I-”

“Love?” She cut him off, chuckling shortly after. “Don't try to excuse it as some sense of duty, Noriko. You have no obligation to serve her in the way you do.”

“We owe her,” they insisted. “After what she's done for us, for all of us, how could we not?”

“.... Fair,” but Elara shrugged. “but you can't deny that she means more to you than just someone you've sworn to protect.”

“You’re so willing to throw all of your morals for a woman who saved you? You're not devoted, you're beyond obsession.”

Noriko didn't have anything to say to that, almost as if confirming to Elara just how much they value Victoria's word over all else.

Instead of standing around to listen to Elara talking down on them, Noriko turned the other way and walked out of Octavinelle.

Elara's manner turned neutral. “That guy's just hopeless…” she scoffed.

“Elara,” Jade called out from behind her, holding a stack of paperwork that Azul presumably needed to sign. “What are you doing?”

She stared at Jade for a good minute, then let out a breath, resuming her work at the Monstro Lounge.

“Nothing.”

༝ㅤ･ㅤ˚ㅤ。ㅤ.ㅤ⋆ㅤ꒷꒦꒷꒦ ✧̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜【♛】

“There you are.”

Victoria's smile almost undid Noriko as they walked toward where she sat in the forests of Pomefiore.

They smiled back at her. “It took me quite a while to find you…” Noriko sat on the grass beside her. “Pomefiore's forests aren't exactly easy to navigate.”

Victoria chuckled. “Apologies,” she set her book down on her lap. “I take it that it took a while to navigate your way to me?”

“You could say that.”

“Well, I suppose I must apologize for that, as well.”

“Don't be,” he chuckled slightly. “I'll always find my way to you, My Lady.”

Victoria's smile transitioned into a teasing smirk. “Oh?” She inched her face closer to his. “Is that so, Noriko Dolion?”

“Ah-” Noriko's face flushed very easily, especially around her. “My Lady… Your face is…”

Victoria giggled, pressing a kiss to the tip of their nose. “I merely jest, Nori.”

Noriko's face remained somewhat flushed, however, they leaned against the tree behind them. “R-Right…”

She leaned against their shoulder, and they let her. For her, Noriko would let her do whatever she wanted around him. It didn't matter what it was.

It never mattered what her intentions were.

“Did you have a long day?” Victoria started with simple questions. As much as she enjoyed a comforting silence, she enjoyed idle conversation just as much.

And Noriko obliged in her want for that. “You could say that,” their head rested over hers. “Thankfully, I never once ran into Diasomnia’s Housewarden on the way here.”

Noriko made sure to be careful in choosing his words when it came to mentioning Malleus; Victoria's soured bearing said as much.

“Good for you,” she let out a heavy breath. “Unfortunately, I had the displeasure of encountering him during class. We share the same classes, after all.”

“And I can't help but envy that prince for that,” Noriko grumbled. “He doesn't deserve to see your face as often as he does, My Lady…”

Victoria snorted. “You think so, Nori?”

“I know so,” Noriko replied quickly. “Malleus Draconia causes nothing but trouble for you. I want nothing to do with that man if it meant you'd be in a notably less amicable mood.”

She could only hum in response to that, feeling all the more endeared the longer her conversation with Nori lasted.

Slowly, painstakingly slowly, her hand went over theirs — lightly tracing her thumb over the back of it.

“.... Thank you, Nori,” she uttered. “For… For staying.”

Silence was — and perhaps always will be — a long-time companion for Victoria Shard. And it didn't try and leave, even during moments like this.

Her words: They sounded random. Unexpected, yet said with good intent.

Noriko knew why she'd breathed it out so suddenly. Why she'd thank him for something as little as staying with her.

But to them — to both of them — there was nothing ‘little’ about Noriko Dolion staying with her for as long as they have.

They both said nothing of it.

Noriko's hand eventually intertwined its fingers with hers, and there was the barest hint of a smile on them. On both of them.

“The honor is mine.”

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

Taglist

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

—

Oneshot dedicated to — @terrovaniadorm / @hallowed-delights

—

Others — @geminiiviolets || @twsted-princess || @abyss-wonderer || @twistedsongstressofstarz / @absolutelyobsessedkiya ||

†•°•══════ஓ๑「♢」๑ஓ══════•°•†

[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