#gbrnth

[stingslikeabee]

[ pluck ]  –  for the sender to pluck a foreign object ( twig / leaf / etc. ) out of the receiver muses’ hair.

the intimacy of hands . accepting

The Highgarden of Archades was a restricted area within the capital - Melissa had discovered shortly upon arriving to the city that only those with sufficient proof of their status could afford to go there, using the elusive sandalwood chops as a token of passage. If the dancer had been in town as a visitor, it was very likely that she would have never made it to most beautiful part of the entire capital.

However, when one had the sponsoring of the Marquis of Ondore and also the title of a mistress to a judge magister fond of flaunting his own wealth, Melissa had no shortage of funds to acquire as many as she needed to travel to the most isolated and highest place in all of Archades available to the local nobility.

It had also become the favorite meeting spot with Gabranth - or Liam, as he had asked for her to call him whenever they were meeting for social purposes. One of their first encounters over shared sweet baked treats had happened there, and the magistrate was quick to notice that the Bhujerban enjoyed the altitude and the company of vegetation in a city otherwise so hostile to foreigners and eccentricities.

Besides, given how expensive entrance to the terrace grounds could be, they were often deserted - particularly after sunset. Gabranth had unlimited access to the place given his position within the imperial army, and sometimes headed there after his own shifts - Melissa wasn't sure if it meant that he hoped to find her; but the dancer lingered for as long as she could just in case he had the time to visit.

Two foreigners, bonding out of mutual pining for something located so very far from Archades - but also bound to the city for different reasons. As much as Melissa's own agenda remained hidden and close to her heart, it was difficult to say that Gabranth was not earning a special spot himself. His concern, the gentleness, the understanding in hazel eyes - there was so much loneliness Melissa could withstand while pretending to adore her official lover.

Judge magister Gabranth - Liam - represented genuine attachment and connection in a sea of deception, even if the biggest liar between the two of them was the Bhujerban herself.

On that particular night, the man indeed came to the gardens - the sound of his armor had grown to be familiar, enough for Melissa to lift her eyes from the book that she had been reading under the shade of a large, fruit-bearing tree. It was perfect timing, really; a few more minutes and daylight would go away completely, making her task impossible and forcing the dancer to go home.

Dusk was a beautiful moment to witness from the gardens - and as Melissa watched Gabranth approach, the judge removing his helmet and tucking it under an arm, the Bhujerban felt lips tugging upwards out of their own volition and a sigh escaping them as well. He looked almost like something holy - his figure framed by the sunshine that lingered behind him, as if Gabranth was some miraculous bearer of good news.

Truthfully, his presence alone was worth it, even more so when he sat down with Melissa after a cordial greeting. He was ever careful with the edges of his armor, maneuvering in a way to avoid harming the dancer and the colored silks of her attire. With both of them on the ground, it was as if there was no hierarchy - no sense of mandatory respect to be demonstrated but for the one a hume should have for another.

But before Melissa could say anything, Liam frowned and reached for her - a gloved hand went to the dancer's dark tresses, gently picking something that was nestled in her hair. The Bhujerban's curious gaze followed his motions, chuckling at the unveiling of a single, fallen blossom from the tree above. It was not one Melissa was familiar with, but the petals were colored in a soft orange hue that reminded her of the setting sun.

"Allow me to do it properly," Gabranth mused with a gentle smile, carefully placing the flower then between Melissa's hair and left ear as many young girls liked to do with the favorite blossoms. The dancer hummed fondly when he was finished, even if she lacked a mirror to check her reflection - the new light in the judge's eyes told her plenty.

"Thank you, Liam. I would be making a fool of myself going home if not for your timely intervention," the Bhujerban declared with some added flair for a playful purpose, and a chuckle came from the magistrate. His voice, darker and richer with amusement, sounded sweeter than any birdsong that had kept Melissa company during the afternoon.

"I am always at your service."

"Then stay with me until the sun dies at the horizon? I would like to remain here with you for as long as we are able," the woman asked, hopeful eyes meeting the magistrate's and seeing the agreement there, followed by a definitive nod of his head and his own figure adjusting itself, leaning against the large tree himself. For a while, none of them talked - but Melissa's hand did move over the grass to reach for his, brushing over the fabric of his protective gloves.

After a moment, Gabranth's palm turned - and he held the Bhujerban's digits with his own, entwining their fingers with decisiveness. At that point, Melissa thought, there was no going back. Despite her role as a spy for the Resistance and the figurative hold of judge Ghis over the dancer, her heart had welcomed an unexpected guest.

It would mean risking many things - but the woman was not strong enough to turn away the one person who saw her beyond the pretty veils and enchanting music. Trusting that no other souls would wander into the garden, Melissa moved to the side, dropping her head to rest gently over his shoulder, carefully doing so in order to avoid the sharper edges of Gabranth's protectives.

And for a few blessed moments, Melissa was able to forget about everything else and focus just on the rapid thrumming of her heart - out of affection instead of rage for once.

[starvingtongue]

continued // @gbrnth

eyes narrowed even more than she thought possible. she felt her skin prickle and her lips pull down at his words, her metaphorical heckles raising. Paine was well aware of the bounty on her head, she'd be a fool not to know. she wasn't worried in the slightest about the bounty increasing. what were a few extra coin on an already heavy bounty? yet, she had figured the Balfonheim Port, including it's outskirts, would've been a safe haven for someone like her. the presence of any of the empire's soliders, let alone an Archadian Judge, would be extremely unwelcome in the port, hence her certainty that she'd be somewhat safe here.

clearly, she was wrong.

her eyes widened ever so slightly, though there was a definitive trace of hostility in them still. her lips turned up into a sneer as she spoke. "You really think I'd go back to that place willingly?" her words came out stonily cold despite the fury that was boiling beneath the skin. her back was against the chain, her hand still cupping the drink she'd only half drunk. "The empire must have their claws in you good if you think I'd willingly go anywhere near that place again."

he must truly mean his words, for not once did she hear his voice waver nor it go into any other cadence besides calmness. however, she would rather die than go back to the capital. she knew that if she even uttered those words, he would gladly take her up on her offer. the last thing she needed was to be stuck back in a labratory and being tested on again. the first time was enough, a second time would be hell. death would be a sweet price to pay.

"Lay one finger one me and I'll kick your ass back to the capital empty handed." there was no way she going to get dragged back there without putting up a fight. if she was going to go down, she'd at least go down with a fight. her eyes not leaving his for a second, her legs crossed and her drink was on her lips again. she wasn't stupid, oh no, he would have to come to her. if he had been sent by the empire to bring her back, he must be somewhat competent in a fight. she wanted to see what he would do first before making any sudden movements.

[queenoftheboard]

tag nine people you'd like to know better

favourite colour(s): originally black, silver and blue but I've been all over the rainbow these days (barring really bright/neon colors).

favourite flavour(s): changing this for food - I'm a sucker for pasta and carbs in general, mostly anything with cheese, cinnamon/marzipan-based sweets and passionfruit/guaraná in terms of drinks!

favourite genre(s): science fiction, fantasy, thriller & suspense, comedy.

favourite music: Japanese rock is where my heart is, but I will honestly listen to mostly pop/rock from anywhere, some (Brazilian) funk as long as it's from a female artist and MPB really hits home every now and then.

favourite movie: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl'. I laugh before the jokes are even delivered, I lost count of how many times I've rewatched it.

favourite series: if we're talking about TV shows, it's likely to be a mix of Star Trek (TNG) and Doctor Who; from videogames, it should be the Final Fantasy, Yakuza/RGG and Persona franchises.

last song: Gloria Groove - Leilão (Gloria is so fucking good, the drag queen era is here and I love it)

last movie: 'Pitch Perfect' (the first one) on my flight to the Netherlands.

currently reading: 'European Corporate Law' by Dorresteijn a.o., I literally paused in-between chapters for this dash game, haha (I'm such a nerd, it's Sunday and I'm finding some of the discussions re. fundamental freedoms in the EU absolutely fascinating).

currently watching: Season 3 of 'Peaky Blinders' and 'National Treasure: Edge of History' simultaneously. The first one is my current 'main' series, the second one I'm doing purely for the Catherine Zeta-Jones goodness.

currently working on: a FFXII verse for Eirene, a PtN verse for my main blog, readings for my new courses for this period and I really must start writing my thesis. :) Like. I'm behind a month in my own schedule.

tagged by: @ragingsands (thank you & apologies for the delay!) tagging: it's been a while but maybe @dojimakaichou . @svnsworn . @tsurugixbuster . @cxnvicts . @thememory & @gbrnth if you haven't done this recently? :)

[leadingskypirate]

@gbrnth​ said: "Promise me not to do anything stupid." SOFT ANGST SENTENCE STARTERS | ACCEPTING

Balthier shrugged. They probably didn’t have have the same definition of stupid. HELPING other people wasn’t stupid, even if he put himself in dangerous situations sometimes. Balthier had always had this desire to be useful.

“I never do stupid things.” He replied with a shrug before he let a smirk cross his features. “Something heroic can happen, on the other hand. I survive all the time, though.” 

[stingslikeabee]

gbrnth​:

Her confession - the loss of her family - struck a chord in his heart; torn between sharing his own grief and the usual defensive empty phrase of pity. She deserved more than a simple expression of sympathy, nice words without any meaning behind them. Once again the Bhujerban initiated physical contact, and Gabranth wished his armor to hell.

“I am sorry for your loss”, he began; struggling to find the right words. His past was still hard to talk about - an open wound, torn again and again, unable to heal - but in her presence he found the courage to speak. “My own family was shattered during the invasion of Landis. My father was executed by an Archadian Judge in battle, and my brother fled our homeland.” Although mentioning Basch brought out his temper his voice remained calm, prompting him to continue before he revealed too much. “My mother was Archadian - the Empire welcomed us into their ranks, but she passed away soon after. I stood upon the ruins of my life, stripped off my home and my family.” He might have given away too much of himself, but the gentle tone in her voice merited an explanation for his constant concern.

“I do remember our first conversation, Melissa - as I remember my doubts about your comfort among those dismissive reactions to your presence. I couldn’t understand why you would expose yourself to that mistreatment; yet I was equally subjected to the same.” Reaching up his free hand covered hers, still resting on his arm. “Archades surely would lose a beacon of sincerity, should you decide to leave the city behind”, Gabranth proceeded to change the topic - simultaneously reassuring her impact on the rigid citizens of the capital. “I may only speak for myself, but I find myself enjoying your company”, he finally acknowledged; not quite the exact words he wanted to say - I would miss you.

For once he didn’t mention Ghis - as he normally would, given the fact that Melissa was in a relationship with the older Judge. More empty phrases about personal bonds and connection; but he knew Hector didn’t see her as an equal. Gabranth wasn’t even sure he would miss his lover, should she decide to head back home. An Archadian by blood; fostering his military career more than his relatives.

“Please forgive me; I do not wish to cross a boundary.” Maybe he already did. The sharp sting of jealousy in his heart he found himself selfishly indulging in her soft expressions of closeness. “This world is a cruel place. If I may protect you from it I will do so.”

One thing was for certain: the Bhujerban clearly had not expected Gabranth to open up about his own past, and not with such intensity. At first, when the initial bits of information were released, she eyed him with evident interest in the personal details divulged - she knew so painfully little about his history, after all. Unlike Ghis, who talked freely about his accomplishments, family line and traditions, the younger magistrate had always been silent and neutral.

But as he pressed on - it felt like more than just a way to show sympathy; it seemed like a confession bottled for so long that it had been killing the man from the inside out. It all confirmed that the connection which the dancer supposed to exist between them was not imaginary - they both faced the same cruel fate, administered by the hands of one unforgiving Empire. No wonder her soul had sensed something so familiar in his - and yet, the judge's sincere words of tenderness felt like small daggers piercing her heart.

Gabranth had no idea of why she truly was there - posing as the mistress of a man who did not love her; dancing for a crowd that did not fully appreciate her talents; befriending individuals to manipulate and cast away their suspicions about her true identity. That the judge was so willing to keep her safe from the suffering she had longed to inflict to Archadia was a different kind of torture - a falsehood that she loathed to represent. The Bhujerban wished to write back to Ondore immediately and to call off their plans; they were doing this the wrong way, were they not?

The only detail that alleviated some of the pain she felt at believing herself a traitor and betrayer of Gabranth’s confidence was the fact that, up to that moment, she had not really been responsible for anything. Ghis was alive, no major information had been leaked to the Resistance. As it all stood, there was a precarious balance where Melissa was still innocent - there was intent (at least originally) but not yet consequence.

Would it be fair to risk influencing the outcome of a war for one’s capricious heart?

“I too lament your pain, Liam. You should have never been forced to go through any of this - neither of us should have lost those we loved so much to a war that threatens to bring yet more misery to so many other families,” she said at last, her words barely above a whisper now. It was a good thing the balcony was closed off - the Bhujerban spoke in a way that could be considered treason. “You have nothing to apologize for - you alone have given me more comfort and kindness than I have experienced in a long while. I will never refuse your understanding and warmth, Liam.”

Another bold step was taken then - not in the literal sense, given how Melissa remained where she was, but by intertwining their fingers by turning her palm skyward... And then reaching for his face with the free hand. The woman did move to stand on the tip of her toes, but only to softly trail her digits along his profile and keep the magistrate within grasp. And to think the dancer had been worried to use his first name before the wrong public - it all paled in comparison to the unguarded look and intimate touches she offered him now.

“I should be the one asking for forgiveness for many lines crossed, and with a judge magister of all people,” she whispered, still unable to move her gaze away from his, “I just hope I am worthy of your faith and protection, Liam - they are far too precious to me."

[stingslikeabee]

❝ maybe someday i will see what i look like through your eyes. ❞ (time for some feelings)

The Mask of Zorro starters . accepting

A traitor, a despicable man, a soulless machine at the service of the Empire, a glorified assassin; many were the epithets that Gabranth used for himself, sometimes in what sounded vaguely like jest. During other occasions, these descriptions came accompanied by haunted looks, pursed lips and a certain unwillingness to meet the Bhujerban's gaze - as if he was undeserving of her.

It broke Melissa's heart in a million pieces to see it happening - first of all, because she disagreed with these notions on the basis that the judge was a survivor, like herself (only his path looked like the one of a magister); and secondarily... Because she wasn't as kind and pure as he believed. The dancer too had a secret - one that got closer and closer to the surface with every passing day.

Lying to him hurt so much - but the pain in Gabranth's eyes hurt more.

"I wish for that day as well, Liam," Melissa murmured gently, her hands reaching for his face across the couch they occupied in her own apartment. Following the incident with the 8th fleet and where Ghis had perished, their concerns over the looks of the neighbors had diminished greatly - the deceased magistrate was no longer able to confront either of them due to their secret dalliance, and none of the civilians residing next door to the Bhujerban had the audacity to question Gabranth's presence there (if he was recognized at all).

The almost imperceptible jingle of her bracelets accompanied the movements performed by Melissa, fingertips steering Gabranth by his chin so he had no choice but to look at his beloved. Inhaling softly, the Bhujerban slid one palm to the side of his visage, holding him tenderly in place while the other digits pressed against his lips in featherlight caresses.

"I see a brave man who fought impossible odds and survived; someone who had every reason to lock their heart but instead opened it to a homesick Bhujerban; a dedicated son who cared for his mother until her dying breath despite the war on the horizon. You made a difference for so many people - and protected a thousand others that will never know about it because you choose to remain in the shadows."

Melissa sighed, inching closer to press a kiss to his lips - although she meant every single word and her eyes were clear with adoration, her own heart was heavy; Gabranth had opened up after so many years just a woman like her - unaware of the lies paving their connections. Now, the Bhujerban knew time was running out to come clean and confess... And yet she kept telling herself that it all could wait just one more day.

One more day where he would look at her with love and kindness, not the disgust of betrayal and hatred for her lies.

"You look beautiful - I hope one day you can agree with me."

[stingslikeabee]

• sender kisses receiver to comfort them.

varying kisses prompts . not accepting

The screaming woke Lilian up; usually, the pained whimpers and the anguished moans that announced the heartbreaking sobs were able to rouse her from slumber, but that night the Bhujerban either had been sleeping too heavily or Noah's nightmares intensified in an abnormal way. The woman rolled over in bed immediately, hands searching for the judge and holding him against her, as tightly as she could.

"Noah - Noah, listen to my voice," Lilian urged him, suddenly wide awake and focusing only on breaking the spell that would sometimes claim her beloved. The former dancer moved her hands over his bare arms and through his hair, seeking to ground the Landissian back into reality and out of the horrible visions that would plague him more often than not - death; flames out of control; pain and blood; frustration and anger.

"Come back to me, kanta. Come on, Noah," the woman insisted, and slowly - but surely - the judge's fitful motions seemed to stop, the magister eventually able to open his eyes in the semi-darkness of the bedroom and taking a moment to regain his bearings. Lilian sighed in relief, laying down at his side and wrapping Noah tightly, an arm going out to keep him close to her while her lips pressed small, soothing kisses to his jawline before continuing to his cheek, hushed murmurs in Bhujerban filling the air.

Noah did not understand them, but he knew these were prayers - for him and his soul; as much as he insisted he wasn't worth them, Lilian nevertheless asked her gods to extend him the same protection they offered to sons and daughters of the Sky City.

"I'm sorry I startled you," Noah said, voice still a little bit coarse from his sudden outburst, but sounding like himself. The Landissian shifted in bed, pressing his lips to the messy tresses of Lilian's hair, inhaling the scent from her and then repeating the motion, carefully. He knew it broke her heart to see him struggling with the (still recent) memories of the battle which had almost claimed his life - the magister was sure he could shoulder that burden, but hated that a part of it fell on his paramour, too.

"I'm okay," she said, the Bhujerban lifting her head to look at him - and after a moment of shared admiration, Noah placed a gentle kiss on her lips, as if sealing some sort of promise. He couldn't really soothe his lover and say these dreams wouldn't come back - but he would always try to return to her.

"I'll be okay as long as we are together."

"Yes," Noah exhaled softly, closing his eyes as Lilian settled again at his side, his own hands coming to hold her in a way that usually helped keep the worst of the nightmares at bay - at least for a while, "We will."

[stingslikeabee]

bold all that apply to your muse. repost, don't reblog ! TW: contains mentions of abuse / neglect / death / trauma

scraped knees, silent tears in a locked room, slamming doors, pervasive loneliness, a dog barking, rain on a metal roof, flinching at movement, the creak of an old house, forced laughter, wandering in the dark woods, wondering how you made it through, sudden loss, trying to make sense of the noise, hiding what you love to protect it, trying to explain but your words falter, invaded privacy, confusion at the pain, running barefoot in the grass, wondering what you did wrong and coming up with nothing, realizing you aren’t a priority, grass stains on white clothing, trying to earn love you will never have, being threatened over the smallest mistake, secrets you are warned not to share, the feeling of never being good enough, the hope things might someday get better, grief that aches in your bones, childish dares and pranks, the sense that your body isn’t yours, shame and guilt that aren’t yours to carry, sledding down a frozen hill, absentmindedly following snakes through the grass, punching a wall until your knuckles bleed, tears over every dead creature you find, searching out small places you can hide… just in case, climbing the tallest tree so they can’t touch you, the feeling of something tainted under your skin, a curious child told to stop asking, floral dresses, body tensing at approaching footsteps, anger with nowhere to go, brief escapes from the chaos, the purr of a contented cat, taking the blame to keep the peace, being told you’re too sensitive, the creaking springs of a trampoline on a sunny day.

tagged by: @zankokukami (ty!) tagging: @dojimakaichou . @sierra6x . @strongfuck . @gbrnth & you!

[stingslikeabee]

“ i’ve been wanting to kiss you for quite a while. “

oblivious idiots in love . accepting

The Bhujerban was dressed with remarkable decency compared to her usual preferences; gone were the elaborate tops with light, ankle-tied pants and the excessive jewelry over bare skin - she had a full Archadian dress on instead, heeled shoes to which she wasn't fully accustomed to in place of flats, hair done as the local ladies usually did for their special occasions.

The change had been produced by the invitation received from House Solidor - a small group of diplomats, esteemed representatives and envoys from other countries had been kindly requested to mingle with some of the high profile Archadians in a show of what Emperor Gramis had labeled as 'tolerance' and a genuine effort to demonstrate that the Empire was not as keen on all-out war as Rozarria made them sound to be.

Regardless of the excuse for the ball - and whether it was a ruse to foster goodwill for Archadia or a trap to sniff out traitors, Melissa did not have a choice but to attend with a smile on her face and ready to make conversation with each and every guest. As Bhujerban tradition mandated, the dancer had no trouble connecting with familiar faces and new ones alike, and was the sole representative of her homeland.

Melissa was dressed in dark red, the gemstones and metal adoring her neck, ears and wrists more subdued than normal - almost as if the woman had been trying to keep a low profile given that the occasion was one orchestrated by House Solidor and she didn't dare steal the spotlight with the usual Sky City flair. And while it had not been something predicted on her part - the gown had been purchased before she even departed to Archades, after all - it nonetheless remained that her colors matched beautifully with the capes worn by the magistrates.

But even the judge magisters were outside of their normal formal, imposing armor - and it was difficult to pretend she had no interest in how handsome Gabranth looked. Melissa exchanged a few sweet words with Ghis, but the judge sponsoring the Bhujerban in the capital was obviously interested in mingling with the other foreign delegates that not often visited the Empire rather than his mistress (something that suited the dancer just fine).

She closed the distance between herself and Gabranth at the bar - asking for some madhu with a slight smirk that declared the woman very much aware of how bold that choice was, and yet she was probably the only individual in the room capable of tolerating the effects of the drink safely. The man had just received his drink as well - it looked innocent enough, perhaps not even containing alcohol; Melissa did not know how the magistrates acted under such circumstances, but she took the chance and allowed her digits to brush over his in what looked like an accident.

It wasn’t.

And as both moved away from the bar and appeared to exchange pleasantries, their voices were lowered and a certain distance was maintained - it would be difficult for a bystander to imagine what they could be talking about but for the food, her upcoming presentations, the might of the Archadian Empire. And yet, despite the most composed faces, the content of their conversation was devoid of any purity.

“I’ve been wanting to kiss you for quite a while,” he said with a controlled voice, and yet Gabranth’s eyes glimmered with intent and desire; Melissa acted according to their farce, offering a polite bow of her head as if the judge had commented on something ordinary, and brought her own glass to painted lips to hide the smile that was forming.

“A mutually shared desire, my love,” the Bhujerban responded with a soft sigh at the end, looking up at the man who had stolen her heart and aware they played a most dangerous game, figuratively dancing around each other while Hector Ghis was in the same room - albeit on the other end of the place. “I will be needing some air very shortly, in about five minutes or so. I’ll be headed towards the inner garden closer to the armory - it appeared empty when I came here, so if you can escape the ballroom a while after that... I’ll be waiting.”

“Melissa...” he uttered her name with something hard to describe - perhaps a bit of shock at her proposal, but mostly longing and affection. The dancer quite enjoyed how it sounded on his lips - the influence of his mother tongue made it sound sweeter, his accent transforming a simple word into something unique and special. Gabranth paused then, but whatever internal conflict he nurtured seemed over - a had went to his chest, and he bowed to her.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

[stingslikeabee]

✨ (go stargazing) - she loves the sky, so...

take my muse on a date . accepting

The imperial palace of Archades was one of the most impressive landmarks that Melissa had ever seen - perhaps because it had been built to stand apart from the rest of the capital from the beginning, a parallel to how Archadia likely viewed itself in relation to the other nations in Ivalice. It was an undeniable testament to power and opulence - the type of location that ordinarily would not have the dancer mesmerized or keenly interested in visiting.

After all, for one born in the Sky City, engineering miracles were everywhere - the Ondore estate was hardly the only magnificent architectural piece around; her entire nation was a wonder, floating among the stars and making every native so fond of the altitude, the celestial bodies and the feeling of freedom that being airborne granted to any hume.

And maybe that had been precisely the reasoning behind Gabranth’s plan - their first meeting outside her own residence or the palace grounds had been at the high gardens; the Bhujerban had confessed as much to the magistrate - she missed her home; she craved the tallest spaces, the closest she could be to the open space above. And while Melissa had no idea of how Landissians felt in relation to the skies, she had described her favorite place to him back at her homeland a few times: the Bhujerban Skygrounds, close to the south borders of the floating island, and which created the perfect illusion of walking right between the clouds.

On that particular night, the woman had no idea of what awaited her - she had but a note from the judge asking for her to meet him at a specific entrance to the palace, if she was so inclined and had the evening off. To say the dancer thought of denying him would be a lie - despite her official link to Ghis, she nurtured no real feelings for the man who provided the material comforts to remain in the city; he was her target; a man to be disposed of when the signal came from the Marquis.

Gabranth, on the other hand...

The Bhujerban had attempted to convince herself time and time again that getting close to him was a good idea; would mitigate any of his suspicions in relation to her presence in the capital, could help her manipulate the man into believing her as innocent as she looked. But the truth was far more complicated - Melissa was having a hard time separating the man from the trademark armor he wore, and she enjoyed his company and presence for what they were and not the benefits she could get out of it. 

Despite the fact they never exchanged any words on the topic and one could assume that they were just on friendly terms given their shared connection in the figure of Hector Ghis, Melissa did further blurry the lines there - her clothes for the evening were more exuberant than necessary for a simpler outing; the make-up done with care, the perfume applied in order to be captured by her companion, the select jewelry playing their role of highlighting her origins and best attributes. In a city such as Archades, the way she dressed and carried herself made Melissa so evidently foreign - and for some reason, Gabranth seemed to appreciate rather than judge her for it.

The women found him by one of the palace entrances at the designated hour - there were no further guards around, but that was easily explainable by the fact a judge magister could probably single-handedly eliminate any threats by himself. With a nod of his head, he gently steered Melissa inside, the door used not one she customarily accessed - and perhaps, deep down, she should have asked herself if it hadn’t all been a trap, and whether Gabranth was not bringing her to a fate worse than death after being played by one of the most versatile judges under Archadian employment.

Luckily for her - or perhaps because her own feelings about the matter were not entirely one-sided - Gabranth did not take her underground or anywhere unpleasant. The magistrate led her to a lift and pressed a button inside, taking his helmet off the moment they were alone and out of the public eye. His look was gentle - he seemed to be anticipating something that Melissa couldn’t begin to imagine what it was, and he declined a response to all of her probing questions with a soft smile on his lips.

Curious about the surprise, the dancer did not realize how long they were inside the lift - the shift in air pressure could have tipped an ordinary hume, but not a Bhujerban. By the time they exited the cabin and Gabranth offered a gloved hand to guide her forward, Melissa took his side without a wasting any seconds and trailed after him, only to pause after taking a few steps outside.

It was breathtaking.

The soft breeze that played with her long hair and jewelry made the Sky City native realize where they were - the absence of anything in the horizon was a dead giveaway as well, but it could only mean they were at the top of the palace. Looking around, Melissa realized there was a small yet beautiful garden surrounding the pillars that formed the intricate and characterisc arcs of the Archadian palace above their heads - but looking ahead, there was nothing but the horizon and the city below them.

Nothing could match the Solidor seat of power - not even Draklor, as tall as it looked from the ground when one visited that district. Melissa was completely astonished by the view it offered anyone - this up high, the fumes and smoke of residences and vehicles below was dissipated and she could see the stars so clearly, the best angle she had ever obtained since arriving at the imperial capital. It was not as close as Bhujerba could get to them, of course - but perhaps... That was the highest standing point in all of hume cities in Ivalice.

A place accessible to so very few - undoubtedly the only reason she could be there at such private and secluded gardens was because of Gabranth. A magister with all clearance levels necessary to reach anywhere he so desired within the palace, and enough authority to bring whoever he wished at his side without being questioned on that.

The girl turned around - lost in her own contemplation of the scenario around her, Melissa had temporarily forgotten just who had brought her there, as well as everything leading up to that moment. As soon as she found the judge’s face, she saw it - his eyes were on her, and the anticipation he seemed to have displayed inside the lift had transformed into something different: satisfaction.

Judge Magister Gabranth looked pleased with the outcome of his surprise and her heart skipped a beat at that realization; had he gone through all that trouble to show her something so precious but that would otherwise not be accessible if not for him bringing her to such grounds?

“Gabranth...” his name fell from her lips without title or reverence; the dancer returned to him to seek his hands, taking both into hers - Melissa added some pressure there that she hoped could be sensed by the man despite the gloves he had on, the sincere gratitude she felt overflowing through her gestures. This moment undoubtedly was the first one since arriving to Archades that she had completely forgotten about her mission or the grim fate that could be waiting for her if she failed; it was easy to return to being a girl dazzled by the night sky with no worries.

“Please promise me you will allow me to return this favor and take you to the skygrounds in Bhujerba. I feel I am in your debt,” she nodded gracefully, but not without taking a couple of steps further and being as close as she could to a man guarded by such intimidating protectives that another attempt at moving forward would have her hurting herself or cutting the billowing fabric of her traditional attire.

“You have given me a piece of my homeland while being in such a distant country - if there is any way of doing the same to you, I’d be honored to do so - but not before we enjoy this place to the fullest,” the woman said with a dazzling smile of her own, feeling so refreshed and full of energy as she often did in such locations. Her link with Bhujerba was ever so strong - despite being half-Archadian herself and a local citizen for all purposes... Melissa had never identified with the empire in any shape or form; she was a daughter of the Sky City and it wasn’t until that moment with Gabranth that she realized that, maybe, Archadia was not so terrible.

There were a couple of benches and other arrangements there for the rare people who visited - and she took the judge there, eager to listen to him about how he found about the place, how often he visited, what he thought of the view and the favorite constellations of his. Her honey-colored eyes were fixed on his face, the Bhujerban’s ears attuned to his words - and for one so fascinated by the skies, Melissa suddenly seemed to see stars in another place entirely.

[stingslikeabee]

@gbrnth​ . from here

Melissa had been surprised to see the familiar face of judge Gabranth there - the Highgarden Terrace was one of the most secluded locations in the imperial city since access to such grounds was always heavily controlled and relied on the pine chop system that, frankly, mystified the dancer.

The reason the Bhujerban woman was there was actually simple - it offered a high view of the city she was currently living in; it helped, to a degree, to placate her own homesickness. Melissa had been airborne for most of her life, so close to the skies in her own floating homeland; to be too long close to the ground and without some sort of view from above made her restless.

Most of her day was spent alone - which was actually a relief. Despite the role of adoring and sweet mistress she played to Ghis, deep down she detested the man; he was a vile, biased and disgusting individual, who treated her like an exotic commodity or a prize to parade in front of his peers - and for such a proud and independent people like the Bhujerbans, it was a heavy blow to their ego.

However - it suited her mission just fine; the more innocent and harmless the judge magister thought her to be, the easier for him to slip up and feed her valuable information, not to mention the chances he offered her to meet and mingle with high-ranking officers that would never otherwise give her a minute of their day. Such was the case of Gabranth - perhaps, if they hadn’t been introduced before, she would never have the opportunity to approach him with an earnest smile and without raising suspicions.

“Not at all, your excellency. I usually come here often - I like the view,” she offered gently, then raised the bag in her arms - the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread was easily noticeable. “There is a small bakery at the Nilbasse district that sells scones made with Dalmascan honey. These are some of my favorite treats,” she declared while approaching him, leaning against the same railings Gabranth used support his body and depositing the bag on the small benches that were found for rest and contemplation around that area.

“I bought more than I should for someone who should watch her figure - would you care to share?” 

[stingslikeabee]

"At least I have you here to look after me, right?"

send in “at least i have you here to look after me, right?" for the receiver to clean the sender’s wounds . accepting

The Judge Magister's words were said in jest - Melissa guessed it was Gabranth's attempt to lighten the mood and to remove the scowl that the dancer knew to have taken up residence on her face while she tended to his cuts. She had been in the middle of cooking dinner when he showed up at her doorstep, unannounced and with blood trailing from a cut above his left eyebrow over his face and clothes, as well as a couple of other nasty bruises which were forming under his shirt.

It was the open cut that drew her concern - and also Gabranth's; his appearance was bound to attract too much attention for someone who favored going everywhere unnoticed by the common citizens of Archades. And with his face in such a sorry state (not to mention his scarlet-stained shirt), anonymity would be a rare commodity for the imperial officer between the place where the unexpected brawl took place and his own home - the apartment that Melissa had been provided with by Ghis was much closer.

"I thought you, of all people, would not act impulsively over a few of disrespectful locals," she muttered under her breath, but despite the slightly frustrated tone in the Bhujerban's voice, her touch was gentle - the fingers moving the gauze embedded in antiseptic from a vial she had previously acquired from the local apothecary went about their task slowly, applying pressure only to remove the blood in excess and to ensure that the cut was properly cleaned.

"Wearing that armor of yours until this heals completely is going to be unpleasant - this would need to be in the open for as long as you can to help the skin mend," she said with a sigh, and Melissa's breath ghosted over Gabranth's face while she fussed over him - the only reason she had been able to do so was because she had the judge take a seat while she remained standing, given his impossible height when compared to her more petite frame. "Next time you would do well to remember that I have heard all sorts of unsavory comments about my profession and craft before - it bothers me not; you, however, are an officer of the law, who should not be seen in a fistfight with the population you are sworn to protect."

From what Melissa gathered - the entire reason for Gabranth's unexpected state was no one else but herself; he had overheard some tasteless and gut-wrenching comments about her as a person from some inebriated individuals, given the posters plastered near to the city's main theater advertising her upcoming performance dates. The Judge Magister then decided to step in to admonish the men in relation to their biased and inelegant opinions - only he was dressed as a civilian, and the drunk locals decided it was a wise choice to just fight Gabranth in the middle of the street.

He won the fight easily - but a hidden knife had hit him on a spot where blood could flow freely if left unchecked, and he ended up coming to the closest place he could for first-aid help. The only reason Melissa knew what happened was because she almost threatened to send Gabranth away if he lied to her - and after that, the man opened up with relative ease, enough to crack a few good-humored jokes at his situation.

The Bhujerban, however, did not find it amusing. Despite her true allegiances - her actual work and reason to be in Archades - she had become fond of Gabranth. He was no longer a stranger in her eyes, a walking armor symbolizing the imperial might; he was a normal man, with his own sorrows and dreams, and someone she had grown perhaps too attached to given her precarious position as a spy. For all intents and purposes, her friendship with Gabranth was stupid - and yet, there she was, dropping everything to help him as if she never had a different choice on the matter.

"Are all Bhujerbans this passionate about scolding others who were merely trying to help?" he asked in a light tone, a soft pained sound following when he flinched - Melissa was now removing the rest of the blood from his face and a smaller, hidden cut was discovered in the middle of her motions, no doubt stinging for a bit when the gauze was swept over it. The dancer sighed and pulled away when she was done, directing her gaze to the man instead of his wounds for the first time in a long while.

"Just the ones we care about - and trust me, this is hardly me at my worst," Melissa said with an intensity that surprised even herself; and she became suddenly aware of their proximity and how strangely stuffy the small bathroom felt to her. Blinking and fighting the heat that was creeping up to her cheeks, the Bhujerban swallowed fast and did her best to bring a small smile to her features despite the unchecked words from earlier.

"There - you look presentable now. We just need to find you a spare shirt so you can go home, otherwise all these stains are going to render my work useless... And I would hate to have my savior looking like he has lost whatever war he has chosen to fight on my behalf."

[stingslikeabee]

A small handwritten note was passed to Melissa; asking her to meet him in the evening; in a secluded alcove in the Rienna district. Upon arrival, Gabranth greeted her with a smile before he put himself behind her; placing a blindfold over her eyes. "Trust me, sunshine. It would be a pity if the surprise was spoiled beforehand."

Intertwining their fingers the magistrate led her to one of the nearby buildings; taking the elevator to the roof - considerate of her being unable to see the steps. Once they were surrounded by the sweet chill of nightfall he took off the fabric covering her eyes. A table was placed on the rooftop terrace; illuminated by candles and the moonlight - ready to accommodate the pair for a secret dinner. "You wouldn't believe it - only one particular chef in Archades is capable of preparing Bhujerban treats. I hope it meets your palate." Pulling her into his arms for a hug Gabranth placed a kiss on her head. "Happy birthday, my sunshine."

unscripted asks - birthday edition! . always accepting

Perhaps before they had crossed the final line by becoming lovers when Melissa was publicly the mistress to another judge magister, the Bhujerban would have been concerned with the perspective of receiving a summons from Gabranth, for a rather secretive location and which implied being blindfold by the magistrate. For anyone else, these elements combined pointed towards certain demise or at least a terrible interrogation at the hands of a professional used to extracting intelligence from the Empire’s many enemies.

But not for the dancer - not when Gabranth had such a warm smile on his lips that transformed his eyes and called her ‘sunshine’. An allusion to the light she had brought into his life otherwise devoted to Archadia, and the idea of being compared to some sort of heavenly body like the sun or the stars filled her with indescribable tenderness for the man. As much as Melissa adored the sky as a daughter of Bhujerba, she would move mountains to remain together with the judge on normal soil.

So it was with full confidence and trust that Melissa allowed herself to be blindly guided by Gabranth, although her curiosity did make several guesses at the final location he had in mind, or even the reason for such secrecy (although she had an inkling given the date). But it wasn’t until the dinner table set for two under such romantic conditions was unveiled (as well as his tale of the hardships in finding a chef capable of recreating her favorite foods) that it all fell into place, and the Bhujerban let out a delighted laughter while being hugged by the judge that, luckily, lacked his bothersome metal plates.

It allowed for Melissa to return the gesture - embracing Gabranth as if they were alone on the face of all Ivalice, uncaring for any potential witnesses who might have been lurking from behind the nearby entrances to serve them and take any orders. Further emboldened by the celebratory surprise, the dancer’s arms slid around his neck like a pair of serpents - only they had no ill intent, hoping only to have him meet her half-way for a kiss accompanied by the soft sounds produced by the jingle of her jewelry.

“Liam, my beloved - you have outdone yourself!” she exclaimed upon separation, but only from his lips. The Bhujerban dancer otherwise remained close to him, still within the comfortable enlace of his arms and gazing at the scenery in front of them as if she was attempting to commit it all to memory - the sweetness of the gesture, the hard work involved in finding the one man suitable for that assignment, the boldness of bringing her out in public to a romantic surprise. For how distant and removed from human affairs and feeling that Gabranth had looked once, gazed at from afar - he was now burning brighter than the sun himself.

“You are my entire world, kanta - I have no words to thank you for the gift,” Melissa murmured with a soft sigh, then moved to get to the table. There was no idea she was going to let the chance of sampling her favorite treats go to waste, particularly from such an acclaimed source - and the dancer was looking forward to introducing dish by dish to her lover, too. It might have been her birthday, but nothing would make her happier than the idea of Liam feeling like he genuinely enjoyed every tiny aspect of Bhujerba.

[stingslikeabee]

[ SHELTER ]  sender can’t sleep due to a loud thunderstorm so they come to receiver’s bedroom to stay in their bed with them. 

the classic romance of a good rainstorm . accepting

Bhujerbans had a most distinctive relationship with storms - water was a precious resource to the people of the Sky City, and the rain was often considered a blessing from the gods. The palings maintained by the Ondore administration always ensured no damaged was caused by eventual lightning given how close they were to the heavy, dark clouds sometimes - as well as kept the citizens safe from falling overboard.

As a result, the dancer was indifferent to thunderstorms - it was actually rather magical to see them from the ground instead, and to compare how different it sounded. The smell of fresh rain on the dry soil was definitely unique, and Melissa also enjoyed the spectacle of the dark skies being a canvas for the lightning bolts - the view, in this regard, was much better from Ivalice proper than from Bhujerba.

The idea that someone would be afraid of thunder was unexpected to her - let alone someone as fearless as Gabranth. On that particular night, he had been asleep in their room while Melissa remained up, finishing some preparations for a traditional Bhujerban recipe that required a lot of preliminary steps to be finalized. The judge was exhausted - it seemed that Vayne was working him to the bone, even more than usual; the dancer didn’t have the heart to force him to keep her company when he could just rest.

It started to rain when the woman was done with mostly everything in the kitchen - but rather than heading to bed immediately, she sat down to finish a book that had been truly captivating since the beginning, a mystery novel by a local author which had never been commercialized outside the imperial capital proper. The dancer was in the living room, entirely distracted with the reading when Gabranth walked over to the couch - he looked distressed, and his messy hair and hesitant steps denounced that he had likely just woken up.

Without a word - he climbed onto the couch with Melissa, who immediately put the book aside and made room for her lover. The Bhujerban was genuinely confused at what had transpired, but the furniture in the living room was spacious and needlessly decorated - it could make for a comfortable, improvised bed if necessary. The judge didn’t pause to elaborate - he just laid on his side and placed an arm over her middle, holding onto her not unlike a child seeking some sort of refuge, particularly given the way Gabranth hid his face by burying it into her shoulder.

“Are you feeling alright, kanta?” she asked at length, a hand going to his hair to caress him softly, evidently an attempt at soothing the judge from whatever had made him move to the living room. Melissa felt him nod - but as soon as the thunder clap echoed outside, he flinched instinctively, clinging with a little bit more force to her. A look of understanding flashed in her eyes then - the thunderstorm. Gabranth was afraid.

“It’s okay, my love. We can stay here for as long as you like,” she didn’t ask anything else (or teased him). For a man that was frightened by so little to bare his vulnerabilities and display open fears... It certainly took courage. The Bhujerban felt honored to be given an insight like that - a look at a softer, human side of Gabranth that surely was repressed the moment his trademark armor was put on and locked in place.

“It’ll be over soon, I promise you.” 

And maybe it was the proximity of another human body, the light coming from the candles or the gentle touch of Melissa’s digits to his head - but the judge did fall asleep again, seemingly unperturbed by the thunder until the storm calmed down. True to her word, the dancer remained up, guarding his sleep like the most precious thing in the world - and in a way, it was; these moments of shared intimacy and trust were more valuable than any gold or metal that could be found at the Solidor treasure vaults.

[stingslikeabee]

once you’re stripped clean, what’s at your core?

rippling sunset

you’re the nicest person i’ll ever meet, probably. with an undying passion to protect those who can’t protect themselves, you’re energetic and bubbly to a fault. it’s cute, watching you run around trying to tie up loose ends. i feel bad for you — out of everyone you know, you probably have some of the deepest trauma, more than anyone’s aware of. this isn’t something that you want attention for at all, and you’d really just rather forget it exists at all… even then, it seems like you can never escape it. i wish you a pleasant rest of your life, full of rippling sunsets and free of prying eyes.

tagged by: @kansaisdragon (thank you, this one was so poetic?)  tagging: @cwarscars . @gbrnth . @rosegoldandsequins . @svnsworn (your choice!) . @shinrasfirst (Roche! u_u) & you!

[stingslikeabee]

which type of love interest would you be in a dating simulator?

The sweetheart with an enigmatic dark past

You're always polite and kind with others. That makes people feel comfortable around you and many would consider you a close friend. However, you seldom feel connected with those around you. You feel like they don't know you, the real you, and they never will because you'll never allow them. It takes a great amount of time and trust for you to show yourself as you truly are, because you repress most of your feelings and desires, and mask them with a calm and collected personality. It just seems easier that way, safer. But remember that if you bottle everything up, it will explode one day, maybe in ways you aren't proud of.

tagged by: @kansaisdragon (ty for this haha I love anything associated to date sim clichés 8D) tagging: @r-edfield . @rosegoldandsequins . @healthkits . @gbrnth . @rebelichor & you!