#hope you all still like Jokamu

[eternally6pm]

This is a post, incidentally to the twenty-odd people who follow this blog.

But this is, specifically, a post for @papersong.

Hello. Thank you for being patient, and thank you for loving Jokamu so much that you reached out to me.

I make no promises but one: I will try to post more. I cannot promise frequency, consistency, quality, or even new material, for that matter, but I will post when I am able to.

@papersong, I apologise in advance, and thank you for bearing with me a little longer; these stories are for you.

And as always, everyone, thanks for coming by. Enjoy your stay.

[the-edgy-butler]

Speak Now Update Part 1, Jokamu WIP

WARNING! Angst,romance, possible spoilers, WIP, Jokamu

Plot: After the war has ended, Xander is expected to take a wife and asks his ‘little princess’ to become his queen. Corrin reluctantly agrees and Jakob, despite the pain of his lady marrying another, continues to serve Corrin to the best of his abilities. Will these two oblivious dorks admit their feelings to each other on the morning of Corrin’s marriage or will they be forced to hide their affections forever?

A/N: I came up with this idea after reading a few angsty Jokamu fics earlier and figured the only way it would come to fruition would be to write it myself due to the lack of activity it seems there is atm with this ship and fandom in general.

Lemme know if this is something you’d like me to continue with and finish, if anyone is interested. I haven’t written fanfiction in a LONG time so I’m pretty rusty. And yes I did use the name of a Taylor Swift song for a fanfic because I am not that creative ^^;

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19247290/chapters/45769972 Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13313905/1/Speak-Now-a-tentative-Jokamu-fanfic

Hopefully this isn’t crap XD

"Thank you, Jakob; for all you do for me. You've always been there for me when I needed you. I'd like you to know that I consider you one of my closest friends and hope to continue to have your support," Corrin said with a forced smile. "I really can't thank you enough."

Jakob swallowed hard and his eyes became glassy; feeling his steely resolve weakening from the inside. But, just as he always had, Jakob found the strength to remain professional and cleared his throat. "It has been an honor, milady. You never need doubt my loyalty. I'll always be there for you, at your beck and call," he replied stiffly, repeating the words he had said so many times before. He then bowed and brought her ‘beautiful, surprisingly soft’ hand to his lips.

The butler savored the moment a few seconds longer than what was considered respectable yet he couldn't bring himself to care. The woman he had loved and devoted himself to since he was a child was marrying someone else. He had to lock this moment away; the final few moments when she was still his alone to care for.

When Jakob finally tore himself away, he missed the pained expression reflected on Corrin's face as he gave a curt nod of the head and hurried towards the door, his heart in his throat.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

As soon as she heard the door click closed, Corrin let the tears fall freely from her eyes.

It wasn't that she didn't love Xander or thought him unattractive... Quite the contrary actually. She recalled the days of her youth when she was still unaware of the truth about her identity; when she would gaze at Xander and find herself silently jealous of the woman who would someday steal her beloved big brother away from her. She never dreamed that it would be her whom Xander chose to be his bride.

But all things aside, no matter how handsome or kind or generous Xander was, those qualities paled in comparison to the bond and memories Corrin had forged with a certain servant boy with shining silver hair.

Late night chats over tea and cakes, walks around the fortress' small gardens, falling asleep together whilst reading the latest novel for their book club; all of those precious memories had made Corrin hopelessly fall for her butler.

He was there for her when no one else was. Wasn't it only natural that she would feel more for Jakob than just simple fondness?

Then there were times that she had thought she had seen a glimpse of something like longing in his eyes as he brushed her hair in the mornings or when she practiced her dance lessons with his arms around her... But when she looked again, she saw nothing more than admiration. And that was why Corrin had reluctantly accepted Xander's proposal.

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

On the other side of the wall, Jakob was having similar thoughts of bitterness as he leaned against the door and sank down to his feet. Burying his face in his hands, Jakob let his own tears roll down his cheeks while sob threatened to escape his lips. 'This is your own fault,' a voice inside said. 'You brought this upon yourself by loving her. You knew from the very beginning that she would fall in love and marry some nobleman yet you still fell. Now you're paying the price.'

He felt jealous. Angry. Hurt. Corrin was his lady to serve and protect. He had made that decision long ago. It was her who had saved him from being beaten and thrown out into the streets to starve; her who had said the first kind words to him in what could have been years; her who had made him feel more than just a failure... She had been his only friend. But that was where he made his mistake, by crossing the line between master and servant.

As they grew, Jakob began to realize that Corrin was the only person he ever wanted to serve. He devoted himself to becoming the best at everything in hopes of becoming her most personal servant; reasoning that he only desired to express his undying gratitude and loyalty. It was only now that he realized the truth. He wanted so much more than to just be her butler, no matter how many times he denied it. He had loved her from the moment she first held out her hand to him.

'It is not like you to so carelessly lose decorum in such a common space. Pull yourself together,' Jakob thought. 'If not for your own dignity, for Corrin. It would not do for her ladyship to hear about your... Breakdown. Particularly today of all days.'

Lifting his head slowly, Jakob quickly scanned the corridor to make sure no one saw his disgraceful display. Luckily no one was there. He was in no mood to threaten anyone.

He took a few deep breaths to steady himself and hastily wiped his remaining tears with his sleeve. If anyone asked about his red eyes or runny nose, he'd blame it on that ghastly spring pollon.

Unknown to the dejectected butler, someone had in fact seen his uncharacteristic display of emotions...

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

[rom-e-o]

45.) Tell me a secret Jokamu or young jokamu!

[Annnnd boom! Finished! Thank you to @persorene for requesting this adorable prompt! This was so much fun to write!  decided to include young Jokamu and adult Jokamu just because I loved the idea of a long-lasting secret. I hope I did these two, blushing babs justice.]

[AO3 link is here.]

“Jakob! Hey, Jakob!”

The sound of his own name brought the young boy to a halt. It was impossible to ignore any sound within in the tall, stone-clad walls of the Northern Fortress. The facility was so vacant of both inhabitants and other assets that the acoustics amplified every sound to obnoxiously high levels.

Even if the person trotting behind him hadn’t called his name, the large, echoing halls of the fortress would have tipped him off to the sound of her footfalls eventually.

“Ah, Lady Corrin,” the young boy said, bowing his head to her as she dashed down the citadel’s hallway to greet him.

The young servant was about ten years old and had lived inside the Northern Fortress for a few years. As such, he’d become accustomed to the princess calling for his attention out of the blue. In fact, she was the only person who could do such a thing and not earn his agitation or passive-aggressive dismissal.

If she called his name, he always answered.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her, raising from his bow once she caught up to him. As she snapped into his usual attentive posture, the ends of his pale, pageboy-cut hair flicked his cheeks. His eyes, large and lavender in color, became a little softer while speaking to her. After all, she was a good friend.

He still recalled the day, mere weeks after his abandonment, when Corrin had saved his life by refusing to let the other servants toss him onto the streets. The memory was a few years old but was still as fresh in his mind as if it had happened mere hours before.

Originally, he’d merely felt indebted to the naïve girl. He’d originally concurred that she must have saved him on a childish, impulsive whim.

Now, he regarded her with increased fondness after spending more time with her. In that time, he’d learned how genuinely caring and sweet she was. He enjoyed reading storybooks with her and serving her favorite blends of tea. The best days were when he could stay for a bit and talk with her about little things, like the types of flowers that bloomed in the garden or what their dreams had been nights before. Sometimes they talked about their nightmares, and he liked those conversations the least.

Thankfully, as he watched her cross the hall to meet him, the young girl wore a wide grin on her face. It seemed that she was in a pleasant mood, which boded well for the likely topics of conversation.

Corrin barreled over to him and rushed to catch her breath. She asked breathlessly with her hands gripping her knees, “Jakob, I’m sorry, are you busy right now?”

“I was just going to fetch the laundry,” he said coolly. “It can wait a moment.”

Even though he was merely a boy, he spoke with maturity beyond his years already. The habit earned him sneers and eye-rolls from the other fortress staff members. Corrin was the only one who didn’t seem to mind.

Following his reply, she laughed sweetly in anticipation. The girl was still trying to steady her breathing, her pale curls bouncing with each soothing inhale and subsequent exhale. “Good! I promise I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to give you something.”

Jakob cocked his head at her in confusion. Before he would inquire what exactly she meant, the young girl had already reached into the sash of her simple dress. A moment later, she produced a letter in her overturned hand. The envelope was sealed crudely with unstamped, gold wax. The paper itself was also yellowed and somewhat torn at the edges.

“It’s…a letter?” Jakob asked, squinting as he looked at the neatly folded square in her hand.

She nodded quickly, her curls bouncing again. Even the satin ribbon she always used to tie her hair back couldn’t contain the wild locks. New strands sprung free of their binding with every swing of her head.

She said merrily, “It’s for you!”

“For me?” he asked. Jakob studied the parchment again before gently turning it over in his hands a few times. His eyes carefully scanned every inch of the letter.

“I’m confused. Who is it from?”

“It’s from me, of course!” Corrin replied sweetly. “It seemed silly to address it though since I wanted to deliver it to you myself.”

When she nodded again, he slowly reached out to take the letter.

“I’m still confused,” Jakob said blatantly. “You wrote this letter, right? We’re talking right now. Couldn’t you just…um, tell me instead of writing it in a letter? A letter that you’re also delivering to me in person.”

Corrin’s expression changed suddenly. She swiveled her head back and forth, scanning the area around them for any other unseen presences that could possibly disturb them. Jakob watched in silence as she surveyed the hall and listened keenly with her odd, but cute, pointed ears for any footsteps or hushed voices.

When she seemed certain they were alone, she turned back to Jakob.

“It’s a secret,” she told him.

She lifted a petite finger to her pursed lips and made a shushing gesture.

His brow furrowed obviously. The statement clearly didn’t remedy his confusion.

Then, as he went to break the wax seal, she suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist, “Wait! I just told you that it was a secret!”

“So?’ he asked dumbly.

“So, you can’t open it now.”

The young servant blinked at Corrin, now even more baffled than before.

“Why would you deliver a secret letter to me that I can’t even open?” he asked. The tone of his belabored question was more inquisitive than angry, but his burning curiosity added an urgency that wasn’t unnoticed by Corrin. In fact, her sweet smile turned into a frown as she crossed her arms and studied him from beneath her bangs diligently.

“You can’t open it now,” she clarified.

The next question fell from his lips gracelessly. “When can I open it then?”

The girl suddenly became more bashful and gigglier than before. Her cheeks bloomed pink as she explained, “You can only open the letter on a day when I’m wearing roses in my hair.”

“Roses?” he asked cluelessly. The tiny butler then unsteadily lifted himself onto his tiptoes to double-check the top of the princess’s head and the back of her haphazardly done ponytail. Sure enough, there were no roses. Just as he’d originally thought.

“Well, when will that be?” Jakob asked with a slight whine. The princess couldn’t hide the surge of thrill that she felt from causing Jakob, who was almost always the picture of composure, to display impatience. Her shoulders hitched sharply as another laughing fit threatened to consume her.

“You’ll have to wait and see!” Corrin replied, lifting a hand into the air daintily. After a few twirls, the tip of her finger landed atop the bridge of Jakob’s nose, where she tapped playfully before darting away.

Just as Jakob began to register the sound of approaching footsteps and the conversing of voices, Corrin had taken off down the hall. No doubt the girl had snuck out of her room without permission and had to rush back before her absence was discovered. The fact that the princess would take such a risk to deliver him such a secret letter made him even more curious as to what was inside.

Months earlier, he would have just broken the seal and opened the damned thing without any regrets.

Now, he felt compelled to honor her request. She had told him to wait, and as such, had placed unmistakable trust in him. Although the boy’s curiosity burned bright, his loyalty to his princess blazed more.

He vowed then and there to keep her promise.

As the footsteps became louder, Jakob quickly hid the letter inside his chemise before it could be discovered. Just as he’d concealed the paper, two staff members on rounds turned the corner and started down the hall, faces lax with cool indifference.

As he stashed the letter, he also thought to reach for a kerchief that he carried in one of his pockets as part of his uniform.

The small butler assumed the role of polishing a nearby credenza with almost suspicious focus until the other servants had vacated the hall. Only then did he take the opportunity to dash back to his room and place the letter beneath his mattress for safekeeping.

The letter remained unread for over a decade.

Preparations for the wedding passed speed and grace that few had anticipated.

The established peace between Nohr and Hoshido had rung in a new era of amity for the previously warring kingdoms. Their respective kings could now welcome a new era of relations and solidarity. For Corrin, the newly designated queen of Valla, it was merely the start of a journey that would revolve around lifting a kingdom from a tragic past and into a promising future.

The very start of that journey would also begin with an official wedding to her fiancée and longtime retainer.

Everyone in the kingdom, visitors and otherwise, was in a tizzy during the days leading up to the ceremony. The palace in Valla was decorated with pounds of flowers and sprawling garlands for as far as the eye could see, making the air thick with perfume as the ground soft from the abundance of fallen petals. Every inch of the castle was cleaned and each guest rooms was dressed in the finest linens and commodities to welcome the onslaught of new guests flooding to the kingdom of Valla.

The ceremony was held in the palace’s royal hall. At the end of the hall, the Queen’s throne presided on a platform overlooking the corridor. The grand space allowed for plenty of room to seat the royal visitors from all three kingdoms, who all mingled peacefully and visited freely between the aisles prior to the ceremony.

By the time Jakob was escorted to the front of the hall by the army’s most renowned knight, Silas, Corrin wasn’t far behind. She was led along by her little sister Elise, who has been one of Corrin’s first allies on her journey for peace years ago. Now, the pigtailed girl was using one hand to blot away her tears with a pale-pink handkerchief, and the other was hooked around her big sister’s elbow.

Jakob was unable to look away.

The sight of the woman he loved more than life itself, dressed in layers of swan feather down and iridescent silk, was humbling beyond words for him. He felt elated, undeserving and anxious all at once, but there wasn’t a force in the entire universe that could have forced his eyes away from her. In a room full of people, everyone else seemed to vanish around her.

There was just Corrin.

While the ivory-color of her gown perfectly matched her candle-light colored locks, the pale color called attention to something else in Corrin’s ensemble that caused his eyes to widen.

In her pale updo was a crown of lavender and coral-colored roses.

After giving a quick kiss to her little sister and giving her a gentle push to join Camilla at her designated position near the throne, Corrin finally began the ascent to her throne. When her eyes met his and she saw the mischievous glimmer in his lavender gaze, she bit her lips to conceal a smile and snuck her gloved hand into his.

Jakob gave her palm a little extra squeeze.

Misty-eyed from her radiance, he couldn’t resist leaning forward to place a kiss on Corrin’s cheek. The gesture elicited a predictable coo from the audience, plus a loud wolf whistle that was undoubtedly Niles’s doing.

Before pulling away, his lips caressed the shell of her ear. He whispered to her, “You little sneak.”

It was Corrin’s turn to give his hand a squeeze, her thumb slowly running along the edge of Jakob’s hand in an act of secret affection that he, and only he, could experience.

Vows and rings were shared. The whole affair lasted mere minutes compared to how long their courtship had been. Judging by the weepiness of some audience members, the more serious part of the ceremony couldn’t have ended soon enough. When the couple shared a chaste kiss that sealed their matrimony in the eyes of the three kingdoms, the response from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive. They’d barely pulled apart from their embrace before a throng of family and friends descended upon them.

A shower of rose petals rained down upon the duo as Corrin intertwined her fingers with Jakob’s and proceeded to lead him down the aisle. While the standard procedure would have been for her to officially take her seat atop the throne as the nation’s new Queen, in a way, Azura had already assisted her with that right of passage immediately following the defeat of Anankos.

Due to the fact that she’d already undergone an abbreviated version of the ceremony, Corrin felt that such a display would have been too self-indulgent. At least, for the moment.

The queen instead pulled her husband along behind her, followed by a parade of salutations and blown kisses, as they departed for their private bedroom. Behind them, groups of maids and other servants rushed to clear the hall so that the area could be cleaned, and all the guests could be properly herded to the reception area for a small feast and a night full of joyful, slightly boozy dancing.

The couple knew couldn’t skip the royal reception, no matter how much they longed to do so.

Still, she knew they had at least a little bit of time before they had to make their grand entrance.

Stumbling back to their private bedroom in a clumsy and giggly embrace, the two barely managed to unlock the floor-to-ceiling doors and push their way through.

One Corrin had latched the lock on the corridor, Jakob returned to her side and stole another kiss from her lips. This time, the meeting was less virtuous than the formal kiss they’d shared at the altar. This time, lips were bitten and whispers turned to moans with ease.

“Easy, my love,” Corrin purred, hands working the buttons of his jacket. Her voice almost dripped with romance novel-sensuality as she cooed, “We have all night, and if you keep kissing me so well, I’m afraid I might not last until sunset.”

It was difficult for him to smother his laughter as Corrin’s unusually formal statement, but alas, he agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment behind her joking remark.  

“Unfortunately, you’re right,” he said with a sigh, backing away with a sigh of whimsy rather than any form of reluctance. “Better to forgo anything too mischievous until there are no interruptions.”

“And no need to change clothes again,” she added with a snap, and Jakob couldn’t help but toss her a smirk of mutual agreement.

She stretched her arms over her head un an exaggerated yawn before lowering her palms to her lower back to give her joints a satisfying crack after hours of standing perfectly poised and upright. Around Jakob, she didn’t have to worry about enforcing such strict protocol.

“I do need a looser dress though,” she huffed. “Corsets seems unwise for trying to enjoy wedding cake.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” he chuckled, undoing the rest of his jacket’s buttons with delicate flicks of his fingers.

Slowly, Corrin reached behind her midsection to tug down the zipper of her gown. The relief of pressure was immediate, and she sighed in relief as she opened her wardrobe to survey what less restrictive gown she would wear to the event.

However, she was also aware that the two had some time before the reception. It wasn’t much, but they could easily steal a few moments together. Corrin was more than happy to take advantage of the narrow window with as much fervor as possible.

There was still a royal reception they had to get to. As much as she longed for it, they could spend the entire evening kissing in each other’s arms. Not yet.

“So,” Jakob said, his gloved hand moving up and down the silk lapels of his jacket as he popped the buttons and slid the material from his wide shoulders. “May I open it now?”

Corrin threw him an inquisitive stare, but before she could produce a question, he reached into the pocket of his jacket and produced a small, yellowed square of parchment with a tarnished seal.

The sight brought Corrin to a temporary halt.

“How did you know to bring the letter to the wedding?” Corrin asked sincerely, her face shimmering with delight as she crossed the chamber to meet him. “I made sure nobody else knew about the roses to make sure it was a secret.”

“We just became husband and wife,” he reminded her with a chuckle. Her hand wandered to her chin as he nudged her face upward to meet him. His eyes connected with hers and caused a flush of warmth to spread across his cheeks. “I like to think I know you quite well.”

Corrin was helpless to argue with his logic. Not that she wanted to in the first place.

“I can’t believe you didn’t open the letter, even after ten years,” Corrin said, raising her arms to loop them around his neck. Her fingers formed a gloved lattice at the back of his neck that slowly pulled him down to her level. “I knew I was right to trust you, Jakob.”

Praise always had a funny effect on Jakob. Compared to every other form of flattery he’d received about her perfectionism and his pristinely composed persona, Corrin’s favorable comments were the only ones that never ceased to get a rise out of him. Metaphorically and literally.

“You may open the letter,” she added with a soft nod, placing a kiss on his cheek.

“Now?” he asked incredulously. “Are you certain? It can wait, my love. There’s no need to rush.”

“No, I think it’s the perfect time,” Corrin admitted enthusiastically, her petticoats crinkling as she lifted her dress to assume a spot next to him on the bed. “I don’t even remember what I wrote! I mean, I remember the secret, but nothing else. It was so long ago. I’m kind of curious to see what else ten-year-old me was so anxious to tell you!”

With her blessing, Jakob somehow managed to tear himself from her embrace. It was an arduous effort, but the overwhelming sense of curiosity was the final nail on the proverbial coffin of their forlorn, long-gone childhoods.

After years of waiting and anticipation, it took but a small tug to crack the wax seal. He unfolded the parchment and read the words within swiftly.

“Dear Jakob,

“If you’re reading this, congratulations! You kept your promise. I knew you could do it. Felicia and Flora said that you wouldn’t listen…but I knew better!”

The syntax of the letter was noticeably novice, and her handwriting was an odd mix between print and cursive that required a few extra glances to adequately decipher.

He chuckled loudly and gave her a look out of the corner of his eye. “Very cute.”

She slapped his shoulder playfully and urged him to keep reading. After mumbling a half-hearted apology, he cleared his throat and pressed onward.

“I have a secret, but I’m too shy to tell you. I asked Gunter, and he told me to write down my feelings. So, I did. Here they are!

“I like you, Jakob. A lot. More than I love my siblings, or anyone else. I want to get married to you someday, and maybe we can even have kids! I’d love to have kids, but only if you want them too. That’s what people who are in love do.

“I want to be with you forever because being with you makes me happy! But I know that you aren’t always happy. But that’s okay. If we get married, I swear that I’m going to make you happy every day. Because you’re my best friend.

“Want to know a secret? I haven’t told this to anyone else. I’ve always wanted to wear roses on my wedding day. Princesses and princes wear them all the time in the books we read. So, if I get married to you, I’m going to wear roses in my hair, so that we’ll look just like the prince and princess in the stories we read.

“I hope when I ask you to marry me that you’ll say yes. If you don’t, that’s okay too. All that matters to me is that you’re happy.

“Love, Corrin.”

Jakob’s eyes softened as he reread the letter over again and again. He was so entranced with the words on the page that he didn’t register the feeling of Corrin’s fist tightening about his sleeve, drawing the fabric taut around his arm.

“Wow,” Corrin finally said, the word escaping like a breathy gasp.

“Agreed,” Jakob sighed, the corners of his mouth lifting into a soft smile. “Gods, you must have been so young when you wrong this.”

“I wrote the letter the same day I gave it to you,” she confirmed again with a nod. “Ten years ago.”

He chuckled softly before leaning into her, lifting an arm to wrap about her midsection. Corrin moved her shoulder and shifted her weight against him so he could draw their two bodies together. When she tucked her head under his chin, he dropped a kiss on her crown. The aroma of roses consumed her senses at the delicate touch.

“You planned this for ten years?” he asked her in quiet disbelief.

“I did,” she replied with a chuckle. “The big secret was…that I had a crush on you.”

“And…you only agreed to tell me this secret on our wedding day?” he asked again, slowly taking a coil of her hair into his hands, twirling it about in a seemingly aimless fashion.

“Yes.”

“You aren’t just a little sneak,” he growled as he tipped her body back into the bed. As she flew onto her back with a squeal of surprised delight, Jakob rolled atop her and barely held her wrists above her head. There was no real force behind the pin since Corrin was all too willing to allow the contact and had no struggle to fight back.

“You are a conniving little sneak,” he said hotly against the flushed column of her throat.

When he placed a kiss against the pulsebeat of her neck, Corrin arched her back and gave a moan of pleasure. Suddenly, she was cursing the thick tulle skirt of her wedding and the distance it added between their two bodies.

“Yes, I am,” she replied, her voice more of a plea than an answer.

The sound of his deep laughter so close to the column of her neck stirred her heartbeat from a rhythmic pound into an anxious, drumming frenzy.

“Well, the secret that my wife may be in love with me is out of the bag,” Jakob said with a laugh. “Who could have predicted such a turn of events?”

Although he spoke casually, it was clear to Corrin that it caused Jakob great difficulty to say the word ‘wife’ with a straight face. It was almost as if he found the statement too good to be true. Like, if he dared to speak too loudly, he’d wake up from the dream.

Almost subconsciously, Corrin loosened one of her hands from Jakob’s grip with ease and lifted in skyward to caress his cheek. His skin was hot to the touch, and he melted against the gesture almost immediately, silver lashes fluttering shut as a sigh plumed from his lips.

She wanted him to know, without a doubt, that everything around them was real. Perhaps, on the same level, she also longed for the same certainty. There were many nights when she’d stirred from her sleep, sometimes screaming and sometimes writhing in need, and immediately wishing Jakob was there with her.

“What a perfect ending to a ten-year mystery,” he admitted, lowering his forehead until it gently pressed against hers. As his face drew closer to hers, the aroma of roses began to consume him once again.

Slowly, his head tilted for a better angle that allowed Corrin’s head to roll languidly to meet his. Their mouths met over and over in a slow, smoldering display of pent-up passion that had finally come to fruition.

“Sorry, my love,” he said with a sultry laugh. “I don’t have a secret to return to you. My only admission is that the love you feel for me is returned tenfold. A hundred-fold. A thousand-fold.”

“Jakob…”

“I apologize that my contribution is so mundane, especially when compared to your clever antics,” he said, his hand sliding down her arm. His thumb slowly grazed the velvety skin through the supple satin of her gown. “It’s a bit anticlimactic, I’m afraid.”

Corrin tossed her head back and offered him a cocky smile that erased the last shred of hesitation and self-doubt within him.

“I feel like I may have an even bigger climax in mind instead,” Corrin teased with a wink. “You know, as a more fitting award for your patience.”

The word was punctuated with another soft sway of her hips against Jakob’s, her skirts crinkling with each movement. She heard his groan at the caress and felt her heart swell with pride at the idea that she had made Jakob, the picture of composure and indifference, make such an aroused sound.

“That is, as long as you don’t mind rushing a bit,” she sighed, dotting butterfly kissed down his neck as her fingers flew to untangle his cravat. “We do have a reception to get to, but I’m willing to make time if you can.”

Jakob was off the bed and across the bedchamber in an instant to kick the door shut and lock it tight.

Many guests wondered why it took the newly betrothed couple so long to arrive at the banquet. While guests like Niles and Reina cast each other knowing glances, attendees like Felicia and Hinata wondered if would be best to go check on the couple. After all, how long could it take them to change into a new set of clothes?

When the duo finally did arrive hand-in-hand to the event, the lipstick smudges on Jakob’s jaw and the way Corrin’s updo seemed to have mysteriously flattened at the back of her head caused a few attendees to lift their eyebrows over the rims of their wine glasses, while others were simply too distracted by the charming festivities to pay the oddities any mind.

It seemed the events that had transpired in the room would remain one of the many secrets shared only between the couple.

[persorene]

Jokamu playlist!

I started this back when I was working on Into the Unknown and it sort of evolved from an Into the Unknown playlist to a general Jokamu playlist. It’s a lengthy list with lyric quotes so it’s under the cut. Enjoy!

Also, sorry for the atrocious formatting. It was really nice but tumblr ruined it and I’m not fighting with it anymore.

-  All I Ever Wanted by The Airborne Toxic Event - “I can tell you that you’re all I’ve ever wanted, dear I can utter every word you’ve ever hoped to hear I shudder when I think that I might not be here forever”

    - Back of Your Head by Cat Power - “Big monster Big monster lover, bigger push over Stands alone in most walks of life Walks alone in most walks of life See you looking through me Like you’ve unzipped the zipper You hold the big picture so well Can’t you see that we’re going to hell?”    - Birds of a Feather by The Civil Wars - “ She’s the sea I’m sinking in He’s the ink under my skin Sometimes I can’t tell where I am Where I leave off, he begins Who could do without you? Oh, aren’t we a pretty, pretty pair? Yes, we are All, all the king’s hoses And all of his men couldn’t tear us apart”   -    Fall at your Feet by Boy & Bear     - “Whenever I fall at your feet Let your tears rain down on me Whenever I touch your slow turning pain The finger of blame has turned upon itself And I am more than willing to offer myself Did you want my presence or need my help? Who know where that might lead?

 And I fall”   -    Heathen’s Kiss by Horse Feathers    - “Are you true to me? Are these vows we speak profane? Are you true to me? Are these vows we make obscene? Heathens kiss, softly From their mouths there’s nothing With violent lips smashing Heathens kiss, softly”   -   I Awoke by James Yorkston    - “Were you close, were you lovers, were you friends? Did she play with and blacken your good name? Did she cry out and real you in? Yes she cried out and I shall never feel the same And of love, that your swore un-blinding Of the strength that you promised me Dare I hope, dare I pray, dare I ask- When you awoke, did you think of me?”   -  If I had a Gun by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds   - “If I had the time, I’d stop the world and make you mine And every day would stay the same with you I’d give you back your dreams Show you now what might have been If all the tear you’ve cried would fade away I’ll be by your side When they come to say goodbye We will live to fight another day Excuse me if I spoke too soon My eyes have always followed you around the room ‘Cause you’re the only god that I will ever need”   -  Jezebel by Iron and Wine      - “Have you seen Jezebel? She was born to be the woman we could blame Make me a beast half as brave I’d be the same Have you seen Jezebel? She was before I ever got to say: Lay here my love You’re the only shape I pray to, Jezebel. Have you seen Jezebel? She’s certainly the spark for all I’ve done.”   -  Lost by Liza Anne      - “I’ll be damned if I do it, damned if I don’t I’ll be lost if I love him, lost if I won’t And I can’t muster up the courage to say its best that I leave I can’t muster up much of anything when I’m feeling you breathe My human heart won’t med itself When I use my own two hands to rip out all the seams Oh it seems, I’m my own worst enemy I’m doing this to myself”   -  Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars     - “I don’t have a choice but I still choose you”   -   You Were a Kindness by The National      - “I was in a fog, I didn’t notice everything Was coming all apart inside of me There wasn’t anyway for anyone to settle in You made a slow disaster out me There’s a radiant darkness upon us I don’t want you to worry I was careful but nothing is harmless Baby you better hurry You were a kindness when I was a stranger But I wouldn’t ask for what I didn’t need Everything’s weird and we’re always in danger Why would you shatter somebody like me? It doesn’t work that way- Wanting not to want you won’t make it so It doesn’t work that way- Don’t leave me here on my own I’ll do what I can to be a confident wreck”   -   Talking Bird by Death Cab for Cutie     - “Oh, my talking bird Though you know so few words They’re on infinite repeat Like your brain can’t keep up with your beak And you’re kept in an open cage So you’re free to leave or stay And sometimes you get confused Like there is a hint that I’m trying to give you The longer you think, the less you know what to do It’s hard to see your way out When you live in a house in a house ‘Cause you don’t realise That the windows were open the whole time But oh, my talking bird Though your feathers are tattered and furled I’ll love you all your days Till the breath leaves your delicate frame”   -   I’ll be Good by Jaymes Young     - “I though I saw the devil this morning Looking in a mirror Drop of rum on my tongue with a warning To help me see myself clearer I’ll be good, I’ll be good And I’ll love the world like I should I’ll be good, I’ll be good For all the times I never could My past has tasted bitter for years now so I wield and iron fist Grace is just weakness or so I’ve been told I’ve been cold, I’ve been merciless But the blood on my hand scares me to death Maybe I’m waking up today”

[louhilainen]

1. Better late than never - Jokamu fanfic

Here is the very first chapter of my fist proper Jokamu fic! This is pretty much retelling of my fan made supports (you can find them on my blog). I always welcome critique, comments etc. So if you have something to say about, really anything in this fic, please do so! I’m not native English speaker, so I especially welcome comments about funny sounding words, sentences etc. to native English speakers. I hope you enjoy this!

***************

Jakob hadn’t had a relaxing evening so far.

Tonight he had been in charge of dinner preparations along with Odin and Felicia. Undoubtedly the worst kind of people to work with. Felicia, despite years of strict training under Gunther and Jakob, was still clumsy with house work and took too much time peeling potatoes. She had a tendency to mess up things when she got nervous and that happened a lot with Jakob watching her like a hawk. Felicia had almost set herself on fire which had caused a bit a chaos in the kitchen. If that was not enough, there was Odin, a retainer of Prince Leo. Although the mage could work efficiently when he wanted, he got easily lost in his fantasies. Every time he cut a vegetable he started shouting about unleashing his dark powers.

Luckily, Lady Azura had come to check them when she heard Jakob shouting Odin to stop his absurd day dreams. She had managed to calm livid Jakob and with her help, they had succeeded in feeding the hungry members of their ever growing army. Jakob had sent Odin and Felicia to clean the mess hall as he figured they would be less in the way there. Jakob and Azura ended up doing the dishes in a comfortable silence. Jakob washed a plate in his hands and absent-mindedly wondered what Lady Corrin was doing. He should pop in to see if she had a need of anything when they were done with the dishes. Jakob’s wish fulfilled faster than he imagined when Kaze appeared to the kitchen door. Noticing Jakob, ninja walked to him.  

“Jakob, Lady Corrin wishes to see you when you are finished with your chores.” Kaze stated with his usual calmness.                                                                                                    

Azura smiled at butler: “You should go see her, I will take care of the rest”.

“Lady Azura, allow me to help”. Kaze approached the sink with the intention of covering for Jakob.

Jakob nodded curtly to Kaze as thanks and after bidding both of them good night made his way out of the kitchen.

Most soldiers had already finished their dinner and went on their way. Some of them were probably fixing their weapons or trying to make most of their precious free time. Jakob could see Laslow talking to Beruka one of the tables, whose unemotional face had a hint of irritation on it. Most likely he was trying to ask her for tea, but by the looks of it he was bound to another failure. Odin and Felicia were still cleaning the floors, and much to Jakob’s surprise, were this time doing it properly without knocking over buckets or murmuring themselves something incomprehensible.  Jakob fastened his walking speed to make haste to Corrin’s side.

After walking through the courtyard to the treehouse, Jakob knocked the door and was answered with Corrin’s voice. “Come on in”. Butler opened the door and was greeted by a sight of his mistress. Lady Corrin was sitting on small table with a book in her hands. She had changed her armour to a more comfortable looking gown. Its waist was below her breasts and he could see a little bit of her white shoulders. Her long silver hair was in a loose ponytail instead of just wearing her favourite hairband. Gods, must she be so beautiful?  He banished his thought as swiftly as it had entered his mind.

”Lady Corrin, you wanted to see me?” Jakob smiled politely, but with a hint of warmth familiarity in his voice.

Corrin put the book down and smiled as warmly at her butler.

“Hello, Jakob. Thank you for coming. You must have had a rough day with your duties, please sit down.” She gestured with her hand to the other vacant chair. Jakob walked briskly to the chair and sat down to opposite of Corrin. Indeed he had had a rough day. Of course, now that he was in presence of his lady, he felt very much refreshed.

“Of course, milady. Now, what may I do for you?”                  

Lady Corrin looked at her butler with her index finger on her lips. “Actually, I do have a request for you. Your birthday is coming soon right?”

His birthday. He had completely forgotten about it, but for some reason Lady Corrin had remembered it.  Jakob stayed silent and instead answering, fixated his gaze intently on Corrin’s face.

Worried by Jakob’s mirror-like gaze she knotted her brow a bit. “What’s wrong, Jakob. You look so pale of all the sudden!”

“I’m just so touched.” Jakob whispered almost in a broken tone.

Corrin blinked her red eyes in confusion. “Huh, why?”

“To think that you would remember my birthday, even if I’m nothing but a lowly butler. Lady Corrin remembering my birthday… It makes me shake from joy…” Jakob gripped the edge of the table to keep himself steady.

Corrin seemed more annoyed than moved by her butler emotionality. “Oh, Jakob, there’s no need to make such a fuss! You speak as I have never that remembered your birthday. I at least congratulate you every year…”  When Jakob and the twins, Flora and Felicia had had a birthday while living in the Northern Fortress, they had baked a cake and shared it together with Corrin and Gunther. Corrin had even sometimes handed them small gifts. She had always looked so apologetic giving them, as if she had wanted to give them something fancier.

“Indeed, it never fails to astonish me that you would remember such a mundane event. But you said you had a request for me. Is it perhaps related to my birthday?”

Corrin’s smile returned even brighter to her face. “Yes it is, have you any plans for that day?” She asked enthusiastically.

Jakob shook his head. “No, not particularly, milady. I plan to serve you as your butler as I do every day.”

Corrin clapped her hands together. “Heh, not this time you won’t! I have great plans for your birthday! So…. do you mind if you spent some time with me then?” At the end the princess crossed her fingers and lowered her gaze a bit.

Jakob was not one to deny his mistress request, especially when she seemed so excited about it. ”As I have said many times in the past, your wish is my command. If it pleases you, I will gladly spend my birthday with you.”

At this point Corrin was literally beaming. “Great! Thank you so much, Jakob! You’re going to have the best birthday ever!”

Jakob could not help but to smile at Corrin’s enthusiasm. “I’m already looking forward to it, milady.”

After that, they talked about little everyday things. What book she was reading and what they both had done today. Jakob missed private talks like with his lady. When they had fled from the battlefield on that fateful day, there had been only him, Corrin, Azura and later Gunther. Even when their army started to grow little by little, they had spent great amount of time together. Their talks had not been always as relaxed as now. Corrin was then anxious of decisions she had made and some of her siblings’ hostile attitude towards her. Jakob always listened to her worries attentively and supported her by his actions and words. But moments like this very starting to get rare with more people joining their army. Corrin found herself busier with more people and issues demanding her attention. Despite this, she seemed to be less stressed lately to Jakob’s relief. Butler was happy that she had found resolve in herself to keep going on her path. When they both started to yawn Jakob excused himself. Corrin walked him to the door and reminded him once more to make sure his schedule was loose on his birthday. They bid each other good night and with that, Jakob descended the steps to the ground.

The sun had almost set down and without it, the wind felt much colder. With Lady Corrin’s invitation his evening had taken a turn for better but he could not help be pensive about her plans. Lady Corrin has never taken such a great interest in my birthday. I wonder why now, all of sudden. Oh well, if it’s something that makes her so excited I have no choice but to comply. Pleasing her is my top priority, after all. That was butler’s duty after all. To be there for their master, at their beck and call. With that thought firmly in his mind, Jakob hurried from the chilling wind to the warmth of the castle.

**************

If you’re wondering about the title, you guessed right. I’m really terrible making them up.

[rubixa-seraph]

Over-Anxious but Would Like to Share

It’s been only two days since I last posted something about why I haven’t been writing but every hour feels like a long guilty time period of “why haven’t I updated this yet?”

But of course writing can take hours even when there’s not writer’s block…that’s where the problem comes down to; my general health requires a bit more attention than that. (By that I mean if I don’t eat, sleep, or socialize I might be able to get all my personal projects done :’D )

The draft of the “You don’t drink coffee but you come to watch me make coffee art anyway so I learnt to make tea for you” modern AU JoKamu short inspired by @mystictactician (and encouraged by @persorene )is sitting in my FFnet account half written. It’s there. I just need to finish it when I have time.

The next chapter to “Maintaining Proper Boundaries” is all outlined in my phone; next chapter will involve Siegbert and Dwyer having a conversation, and I get to write Corrin choosing what her new armor will be. (Aka Hoshido or Nohr Noble class change.) I still don’t know why I’m indulging in this Corrin x Dwyer (result of Jakob x Camilla) sin when I’m so deep in JoKamu hell, but hey, I will see it through to the end! (And because I do kind of like these pairings also…?)

I’ve noticed that @writeanddrawthis has been revisiting one of my concept blurbs for a detective and phantom thief AU where Jakob is a detective chasing down the mysterious Phantom Thief “Ø”, gets harassed by next-door-neighbor Niles, unwillingly allows co-worker Silas to set him up for a blind date and thus (against his stubborn mind but to the will of his heart) becomes smitten for Corrin…among many other things! I think a plan is formulating and it won’t hurt to make this story come to life. I just need to plan it out and finish at least one of my multi-chaptered things first. (I must be careful to pace myself.)

Annnnnnnd since @mystictactician was talking about thinking up retainers for the Vallite Royal Family, I suppose it won’t hurt for me to announce that I have an entire finished draft of a chapter one to something that is somewhat related to a similar vein of thought…the tentative title so far is “Terms and Conditions (Are Invisible)” and the idea is that Jakob’s transition to being Royalty has become such a trying process that Corrin decides finding a retainer for him (instead of waiting for me to choose one since it certainly wasn’t happening anytime soon) will help ease things along, seeing how in her life, her retainers helped shape much of who she was and helped her through thick and thin (well, just look who’s still by her side!) The story plan is that through the process of introduction of this new character, everyone discovers more on how the changes have impacted their lives and finally begins to make better adjustments towards their new lives. If any has read one of my short stories that I wrote during the time @persorene was going through sickness, this new retainer in question is Corvus, who was briefly introduced there.

All of my Fire Emblem related works are done at the indulgence of my love of character interpretation. I can’t wait to get back to writing out further observations of these characters.

–Art-related things

I don’t recall if I’ve mentioned, but my family and I have plans to attend a convention with a table/booth. This is somewhat daunting as it’s hard to put together finances for product, but it’s been my dream to do this, so preparation for this is what is actually preventing me from writing as much right now. For the time being, as we are working as a group, with very limited start-up cost, my attention is focused on Overwatch related things as it’s a topic we as a group all know…so if all goes well, I’ll have a few Overwatch related charms to sell. We have yet to decide on what other generally popular things to touch on yet, since we do have a budget to adhere to, but I hope somewhere in there will be room for Fire Emblem, even though only 2 of the 4 of us play the game. (If not, then all it means is that I have to wait a bit longer before I have time and funds to make accessories related to FE, haha. Granted, there are a lot of other things I like, too. But I know I’ve been more active in the FE fandom as of late.)

I also need to make some quick reference art of Corvus…and having seen @mystictactician’s sketch of their concept for a retainer OC, I’m more excited to make this reference. In thanks, and also because I like doing fanart for other people when I can, I want to draw her also when I draw Corvus! Please look forward to it!

Other art things I want to do…well, I’ve been seeing a lot of art done for Fire Emblem Heroes regarding being the Summoner. I suppose it’s time I also did one…though I’ve never been too good at simply drawing myself. Being someone who is used to donning different names and mannerisms, expect to my summoner to be, well, more than just me, haha.

And in non-FE related news…I still haven’t done reference art for my 9 DigiDestined for my Digimon SpiritBlade story. Maybe it’s time I stop adding projects to my plate. (NEVER!)

[the-edgy-butler]

Speak Now, a tentative Jokamu Fic WIP

WARNING! Angst,romance, possible spoilers

Plot: After the war has ended, Xander is expected to take a wife and asks his ‘little princess’ to become his queen. Corrin reluctantly agrees and Jakob, despite the pain of his lady marrying another, continues to serve Corrin to the best of his abilities. Will these two oblivious dorks admit their feelings to each other on the morning of Corrin’s marriage or will they be forced to hide their affections forever?

A/N: I came up with this idea after reading a few angsty Jokamu fics earlier and figured the only way it would come to fruition would be to write it myself due to the lack of activity it seems there is atm with this ship and fandom in general.

Lemme know if this is something you’d like me to continue with and finish, if anyone is interested. I haven’t written fanfiction in a LONG time so I’m pretty rusty. And yes I did use the name of a Taylor Swift song for a fanfic because I am not that creative ^^;

Hopefully this isn’t crap XD

"Thank you, Jakob. You've always been there for me when I needed you. You're so much more than a butler to me. I'd like you to know that I consider you one of my closest friends" she said with a forced smile.

Jakob swallowed hard and his eyes became glassy; feeling his steely resolve weakening from the inside. This sounded an awful lot like how Corrin would confess her love to him in his dreams at night.

But Jakob found his inner strength to remain professional, just as he always had, and cleared his throat. "It has been an honor, milady. I hope to serve you and your new... husband... with the same dedication as always..." he replied, almost squeaking the word. He then bowed and brought her beautiful, surprisingly soft, strong yet delicate left hand to his lips. The butler savored the moment a few seconds longer than what was proper yet he couldn't bring himself to care. The woman he had loved and devoted himself to since he was a child was marrying another man. He had to lock this moment away; the final few moments when she was still his to care for.

When Jakob finally tore himself away, he missed the pained expression reflected on Corrin's face as he gave a curt nod of the head and hurried towards the door.

On both sides of the wall, hearts were breaking. As soon as she heard the door click closed, Corrin let the tears fall freely from her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't love Xander or thought him unattractive...It was quite the contrary actually. She could remember days in her youth when she was unaware of the truth of her relationships with her siblings where she would gaze at Xander and find herself secretly jealous of the woman who would someday steal her beloved big brother away from her. But all that aside, no matter how handsome or kind or generous Xander was, those things could never replace the bond and memories Corrin had made with a certain servant boy with shining silver hair.

[rom-e-o]

Happy New Year [In December] - Jokamu

“Do you have any resolutions for the New Year?”

“I don’t believe in resolutions. If you need the idea of a ‘New Year’ to inspire changes in behavior, then I think a change in overall mindset is what’s needed more.”

“…That’s about the answer I expected from you,” Corrin said with a laugh. She was holding two planks of gingerbread upright while her husband Jakob suspended a bag of frosting over his shoulder and proceeded to pipe the sugary glue steadily at the intersection of the two cookies.

“It’s the truth,” he said with a shrug, setting the bag down once the last of the frosting was squeezed out. Corrin pressed the two walls together gingerly, then cautiously pulled her hands away.

The cookies stayed upright, and both let out a sigh. The couple exchanged a relieved high-five.

“Very nice,” Jakob said, rolling a shoulder. “One corner down.”

“This is going to take forever,” Corrin said with a tiny laugh. “I don’t remember it taking this long when we used to do it.”

“Well, Kana and Dwyer will be surprised,” Jakob said, hoping to erase the monotony of the task at hand. “We haven’t made a gingerbread house in a while.”

“Well, New Year’s Eve is a few days away, and we got this kit on sale at the store,” she said with playful lilt in her voice. “So…I think we’re past the point of…punctual festivity.”

The man chuckle and gave her a warm glance. “Punctual festivity?”

“You know what I mean,” she said, swatting at his shoulder. “Now come on, they’ll be home from cram school soon and we’ve finished….one corner.”

“Sorry, sorry, you’re right,” Jakob said, picking up the piping bag again. “Back to work.”

The two bustled about, icing planks of stale cookie and placing colorful off-brand candies for what felt to both like hours.

Minutes before the parents expected their sons home from school, the two stepped back and admired their masterpiece; a small one-room gingerbread house decorated with a rainbow assortment of candies and peppermints. Corrin has even used a small toothpick to properly apply detailed patterns of frosting to four people-shaped cookies.

“Ah, are you making all of us?” Jakob asked as he watched his wife adorably apply dollops of icing to the top of a little gingerbread boy’s head. The result was a head of unruly hair that looked similar to Kana’s.

Jakob continued, “Aw, how cute. Who knew our son would make such an adorable, erm…cookie?”

Goodness, the evening had taken a weird turn.

“Isn’t he?” Corrin asked proudly as she held her tiny son up proudly and gently pressed him to a spot near the house. “I’ll try to make you next.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

“I’ll try to manage,” she laughed. “They don’t have a cookie as weirdly tall as you are though.”

“Hey.”

“Don’t feel bad,” she said with a nonchalant wave of her hand. “There’s no cookie with Dwyer’s bad posture either.”

“Is there a cookie that likes to poke fun at others?” Jakob asked in a mock falsetto as he playfully peeked inside the gingerbread tin. Again, she batted his chest with the back of her hand. However, this time she couldn’t resist kissing his cheek apologetically.

The woman turned her back and hunched over her project secretly, hiding it from Jakob until she was finished. He rolled his eyes and decided to start cleaning up while she added the oh-so-secret finishing touches to the abode.

Finally, as he finished wiping down the countertops and washing the dishes they dirtied to decorate the house, she was ready to reveal the tiny cookie family to her husband.

The entire gingerbread house ensemble was quite cute, especially given that they couple had only worked on the project for about an hour. Their children would be home any minute and would no doubt be delighted to look at the sight. The situation was further sweetened by the fact the Kana adorned gingerbread and would probably eat the entire house in a matter of days. It was an annual event and truly a sight to behold.

“In a few hours, Kana will be bouncing off the walls from a sugar rush,” Corrin said fondly, wrapped her arm around her husband’s waist and pulling him close. “Prepare yourself.”

“I thought ahead and bought sugar free frosting,” he said in a humorless voice as he recalled the sugary antics from last year. He shivered and said, “We don’t want to repeat history.”

“No,” Corrin said, holding him tighter and she felt Jakob lift a hand to affectionally cup the nape of her neck. “Although…there is one part of last year’s gingerbread building I’d love to repeat.”

Jakob’s brows lofted quizzically.

“Remember?” she asked, swaying her hips and artfully twirling away from his touch to swipe her finger across the tip of the frosting bag. “I had trouble with the icing bag, and there was a tiny explosion. I got icing all over me, and thought you’d were going to freak out and go into a cleaning frenzy.”

As soon as she saw Jakob’s cheeks turn rosy, she knew he remembered. The woman reached out and put the finger to his lips and smeared the icing across his mouth. A second later, she covered his lips with her own and pulled him into a powerful kiss the seemingly seared his nerves from his heart to the tips of his fingers.

Corrin left the kiss too quickly, pulling back and flashing him a cheeky grin. “I could repeat that every year, couldn’t you?”

“More like every moment of every day.”

“Uh-Uh…” Jakob said dizzily, eyes half-lidded as he gazed down at her lovingly. The tips of his fingers brushed the sides of her face. “Mm-hm.”

“Ha! Speechless, huh?” she asked, hands resting on his elbows as she leaned in to steal one more vanilla-flavored smooth. She felt a little surge of victory that she’d managed to turn her husband’s silver tongue to lead so quickly.

“Mm-hmm…” he said pleasantly, chuckling and pressing another kiss to the crown of her forehead. Then, he caught her by surprise by putting his hands on her ribcage and playfully lifting her into the air with ease Corrin would never get used to. The woman let out a snort of loud laughter that continued uproariously as her twirled her around the room, a wide grin on his face before he loosened his grip. She slid down until their lips collided again, and her arms went about his neck as she slowly descended onto the floor.

The second kiss lasted longer than the first, with both savoring the moment for as long as possible until they heard the key turn in the lock of the front door to their loft.

Jakob bit his lip and pressed his forehead against his wife’s. Corrin beamed up at him adoringly.

Even after marriage and two children, simple kisses with each other still drove Jakob and Corrin absolutely wild with desire, love, and most of all, complete and utter happiness.

The lock clicked softly, and the couple reluctantly separated to stand on either side of the house. Perhaps it would look a little less suspicious, although neither of their children were young enough to still not have a clue. Dwyer especially had no problem teasing his parent about their romantic escapades.

The door swung open and, as expected, Kana bounced into the apartment only a few steps ahead of his older brother Dwyer. The two immediately noticed the gingerbread house, and Kana was quick to also notice and remark on the adorable little gingerbread family out front. Even Dwyer was impressed by the house, although he did make a few inevitable remarks about the craftsmanship.

The couple was exceptionally glad that neither Kana or Dwyer seemed to notice their flushed cheeks or the featherlight lipstick smears across their necks and mouths.

I’ll be staying overnight for an NYE party, so I wanted to upload something before the big day.

Happy [early] New Year, guys! So 2017 was really, really weird [to say the least, yeesh]…but a lot of good things happened. Especially here on Tumblr with all the great people and writers I’ve followed this year.

Here’s to a better and prosperous 2018.

[persorene]

Jokamu Playlist Prompts: Day 1

*repost because Tumblr decided to make the original unreadable*

 For the next several days, I’ll be doing little story snippets inspired by the lyric quotes I used for each song in my Jokamu playlist that was posted last week. I’ve gotten several requests for this and decided to do it and see how it goes over. I haven’t written Jokamu in ages (I’ve been heavily focused on an original novel) so bear with me if it takes a while to get these out but I will try my best! I *think* I’ll be going in the order of the song list but honestly some stories are really fleshed out in my mind already and I may get through those first but we’ll see how it goes!

Today’s lyric quote prompt is: “I can only say these things to you while you’re sleeping. I hear the hum from the wire as the sounds of the morning creep in. I lie awake and pretend you can hear me. And I feel my heart pounding, and I think I might scream. I can tell you that you’re all I’ve ever wanted dear, I can utter every word you’ve ever hoped to hear, I shudder when I think that I might not be here forever” from All I Ever Wanted by The Airborne Toxic Event.

Corrin lay perfectly still, wrapped in thick quilts, her long hair strewn about her as if it had been intentionally posed to look a mess. She had fallen asleep hours prior, her breathing soft and even as she dreamt. Jakob had only come in to check on her and throw another log onto the fire that was dying out in her fireplace so that her room would be warm when she finally stirred awake in the morning. But as usual, he found himself enraptured by the girl, hovering in the room slightly longer than he needed to, fiddling with some task that didn’t particularly need to be done in the early hours of the morning before any light had taken hold of the sky. It was far beyond inappropriate. He knew his days of tending to her were likely drawing to a close- she was a woman now, she needed a lady’s maid. The fact that she’d been allowed to keep him as her main servant for this long was a miracle and it was only because of their close friendship that Gunter had allowed it to carry on. His years of loyal service would end and then what use would she have for him? The thought made him shudder- a life without Corrin wasn't one he wished to imagine. He shook his head gently as if to loosen the thoughts from his mind. He didn’t want to leave her, but he couldn’t stay in good conscious, either. She haunted his thoughts. In the day, when he was working he could ignore it- the flush on his cheeks and the stir in his chest at the sight of her. But at night, in the quiet, alone with his thoughts, she seemed to invade his every dream. Her smile, the way she’d tuck her hair behind pointed ears and smile at him, her eyes turned to the ground as her cheeks flushed red and a soft laugh slipped from her lips. Her every word, the lingering glances he’d caught when he’d turned too quickly and found her watching him, her hand gripping his as they read together in the library… He adored her but allowing himself to dwell on his feelings was enough to make him hate himself. He was a pitiful excuse for a butler, he had decided, if he couldn’t so much as keep his emotions in check. She deserved so much more from a servant; from a… no. He stopped the thought before it could bring itself into being. Jakob’s chest heaved as he sighed, his eyes darting from his nonsensical dusting to his master, still sleeping peacefully. “I wish I could tell you all of this, all that I’m thinking like I can tell you everything else.” He whispered into the darkness as if she could hear him. “I can’t though; not when you’re awake. And telling you now is cowardly and wrong- it’s wrong. But I feel like I’m going mad, milady. I want to shout your importance to everyone I meet, I want to scream to the gods that they blessed the earth when you were born. You are my very reason for living and I can’t tell you that." "How can I feel these things, how can I live with the fact that you’re everything I could want in my life… and yet you will never be mine. I’m a fool for staying so close, for allowing this go on but no matter how hard I try, no matter how much I tell myself it’s the best for both of us- I can’t bring myself to leave you. I can‘t let you down just because I’m a pathetic, weak man who can’t think clearly.” Jakob paused, his eyes drifting back to her, she was still sound asleep and he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her, snuggled into the blankets, her lips parted gently and her face so serene. “I could talk for days of your magnificence, I would never let you go a day without knowing how loved you are if only I could tell you. And yet I sit here, whispering to you while you sleep because I can’t rid myself of these horrid feelings. I am so sorry. I’m sorry that I feel this way. I’m sorry that I’m too much of a coward to do what’s best for you. I’m not good enough to serve you, let alone harbour these sentiments.” From the hallway above, he could hear the sounds of the other servants waking up and beginning their morning tasks. He watched her only a moment longer before he stepped toward the door. He needed to start her breakfast and see to polishing the silver- and gods forbid he have to explain to Gunter why it took him so long to feed the fire. Jakob paused, his hand on the door as he lingered briefly in the threshold “I am truly and deeply sorry, Milady.”

[rom-e-o]

“Red Thread” - Jokamu AU [1]

The Jokamu AU game is strong on this site, so I wanted to toss my hat into the ring. I’ve been working on this project for a while, but it’s still not complete. So I thought I’d post a sneak peek here! 

It’s very bare bones and needs some major editing, but I hope it can be enjoyed. The final version with multiple chapters will be posted on FF/here for sure.

Legend states that two people connected by the Red Thread if Fate are destined lovers. The gods tie the thread around the little fingers of two people destined to be soulmates. The couple’s love transcends universes and exists regardless of place or time.

The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.

“Kana!” Corrin yelled upstairs to her son, who was supposed to be getting dressed for school. The woman knew she needed to continually prompt her son to hurry and get ready. Truthfully, she knew he was probably still in his pajamas and watching television. Her son was a good boy, albeit easily distracted.

Plus, she had a feeling the boy was still a little blue after their recent move.

Before living in the Valla Metropolitan Area, the mother and son duo had resided in the city of Nohr, where Kana had originally gone to school. Moving to the new municipality met that the boy had basically been uprooted from his home and separated from all his friends and even members of his Nohrian family. Frankly, the young woman couldn’t blame the poor boy for feeling stressed. She was an adult and she was still trying to find ways to cope.

If only the move had been all she’d had to worry about, perhaps it would have been easier to adapt.

The young woman hollered upstairs again, her hand cupping her mouth as she called up the stairs of her modest townhouse. “Hurry downstairs, honey! You’re going to be late for school!”

When no reply came, Corrin walked to the base of the stairs while reluctantly sliding her heels onto her already sore feet. She yelled again, “Kana! By the time I count to three, you better be downstairs!”

Silence answered her call.

“One…”

A muffled reply answered her call. It sounded like an ‘okay!’ She supposed that was promising enough for now. She’d give him a couple minutes before yelling up again.

The young woman sighed and ran a hand through her flaxen hair as she walked to her kitchen and took one last swig of coffee. The woman had barely been awake for an hour and had already emptied two cups. It seemed it was going to be one of those weeks.

She knew being a single mother would have its challenges, but she never imagined how hectic just the simple task of getting out the door in the morning would be.

Corrin had moved to the municipality of Valla about a year ago to accept a position of City Manager. The young woman had grown up with government ties in Nohr, but had moved to the city of Valla after learning of the nepotism and scandals in her hometown. The rumors had spread like wildfire and, although she’d never held a position of power in Nohr, she was quickly resented. She’d been born in the city of Hoshido, and even the legality of her citizenship had been called into question. Hoshido resented her, and it was too risky to remain in Nohr.

As a solution, she’d moved to Valla. It was an awkward city that was close to declaring bankruptcy. Her ultimatum had been to move to the city or face consequences in Nohr. If she could make a life there, perhaps she could give her son the childhood he deserved without having to witness political turmoil.

I have to give Kana a normal life, Corrin thought as she finished her coffee and placed the mug in the sink. He deserves it so much, especially after what he went through with his father…

The woman cringed, shuddering against all the violent memories that threatened to assail her in the moment. Corrin had left Kana’s biological father out of necessity, and had won the battle to take custody of Kana. That didn’t mean memories of her former spouse didn’t haunt her still.

Thankfully, the sound of her son’s footsteps awoke her from her day dream and directed her attention towards the corridor, where he was sitting on the bottom step and slipping on his sneakers. Seconds later, the boy bounced up and ran to his mother’s side, wearing casual clothes and sporting a messy hairstyle. The woman sighed at the sight of her son’s unkempt hair and decided to keep her mouth shut.

“Okay, I’m ready,” Kana said. “Mama, you don’t have to walk me to the station. I can get there by myself. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Any other kid would have made up the excuse to avoid being seen walking with his mother. Coming from Kana, it was a sincere statement.

“Are you excited?” Corrin asked as she reached for her purse and camel-colored coat, slipping it on over her narrow shoulders. “This is your first day of public school, after all.”

“Yep! I don’t have to wear a school uniform anymore,” he said excitedly. Despite his happy tone, she could tell at least part of his enthusiasm was only a façade. “So, um…that’s good.”

“Right,” Corrin replied awkwardly, averting her gaze from her son’s temporarily. A knife of guilt twisted into her heart, but she knew she was doing the right thing.

The young boy also retrieved his jacket from the nearby coat rack and pulled it on more clumsily than he would have liked. Corrin saw him struggl and reached down to help her son put his arms through the bulky sleeves.

“So, pop quiz time,” Corrin said as she kneeled to meet her son’s gaze. “How are you going to get home today?”

“I’ll get on the train and then transfer once to get to the station near the school,” he said with a nod. “When I come home, I can either take the train or the bus. There’s a stop a block away from the school, and I’ll take the bus home if there’s a delay for the train. I have the money for the fare if I need it, my metro card…and…”

The boy pursed his lips as he tried to recall the last item. Finally, he said with a burst of energy, “Oh! I also have that index card with your phone number on it in case I get lost!”

“That’s right,” Corrin said, wagging a finger in front of his face before playfully poking the tip of his nose. “If you get lost, be sure to call me as soon as possible. Just in case, I’ll give you some extra change for a payphone.”

As Corrin dug into her purse for some extra change that she’d otherwise probably use for toll booths, the little boy laughed and put a tiny hand on her elbow to stop her from giving him anymore money. Payphones were so outdated that it would be pointless to take away change she could possible use for more practical things anyway.

“I promise, Mama! I won’t get lost!”

Kana was completely lost.

The little boy had gotten to school without a problem and had found it incredibly easy to make friends. Although the classes at his former school had given him a jumpstart on some of the lessons, he was still baffled by some of the lessons taught by his older teacher. The boy didn’t catch his last name because all of the students simply referred to him by his first name, Gunter, much to the man’s chagrin.

Gunter’s irritation aside, Kana enjoyed his class and had even made friends with a younger girl named Midori. They’d played at recess and she had even volunteered to share her history textbook with him after the boy realized he’d forgotten to pack his after getting dressed. He supposed he got what he deserved after spending the entire morning watching cartoons instead of getting ready for school.

Once classes were dismissed, Kana had bid Midori farewell and set off to the train station. At least, that had been his plan.

The craziness of dismissal combined with the unfamiliar cityscape around the school had disoriented the boy and left him get turned around. Every building looked like the copy of the other. Some shone with a futuristic mirrored aesthetic while others were dull cement lumps anchoring shady street corners. The boy had circled the block a dozen times and hadn’t been able to locate the bus stop, train station or elementary school again.

After almost half an hour of walking through both safe and risky areas of the city, nothing around the boy looked familiar. None of the shops or stores looked like ones he’d passed on his way to school. Any bus stops he found weren’t on the route he needed to take home, and although he knew he could transfer if he had to, the map was so confusing that he didn't feel safe attempting to board.

Still, it was his best chance.

Kana had been holding back nervous tears for a while, but continued to force them back as he tried to navigate the overwhelming map of intertwining colorful pathways in parts of the city he didn’t even know existed.

Less than a minute later, the boy broke down into tears.

“Mama…” he wept, thinking only of how disappointed she would be in him. The boy had no idea that Corrin was already frantic with worry after calling her house and finding nobody home to take the call. She had already abandoned work early and driven to the school to find him, but Kana couldn’t have made it back even if he knew his mother was looking for him.

As he sniffled and tried to wipe his tears with the sleeves of his nylon jacket, he heard the soft ring of a bell a few feet behind him. It sounded like someone was exiting the shop behind the bus stop. Kana turned briskly in an attempt to hide his tears, but the stranger wasn’t fooled.

“Hey kid,” a voice droned lazily. “Um…are you lost? My old man said you can come in and use our phone.”

The blond child turned hesitantly to see the identity of the person who was speaking to him. The stranger was much older than him and appeared to be in high school. His clothes were dark and baggy, and his hair was thick but unkempt.

While Kana was initially put off by his deeply hooded eyes and hunched posture, there was something about the teen that seemed to calm him. Perhaps it was the very small, sincere smile on his face. It wasn’t the expression of someone faking kindness, but rather the smile of someone who was caring and concerned. His mother always looked at him similarly when he cried.

“I…um…” Kana stuttered as he gripped the zipper of his jacket nervously and tugged it back and forth. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

The teen laughed and nodded. He said slowly, “That’s good. Your parents taught you well.”

“My mom taught me,” Kana corrected timidly. “I can’t find her.”

The teen nodded sympathetically, feigning ignorance as if he hadn’t already pinpointed the vague source of the boy’s distress.

“Sure,” the teen said. “That’s really scary. I don’t blame you for being upset. I’d be scared too.”

Kana looked at the teen and blinked his eyes slowly. Some of the guilt he felt for getting lost was lifted from his tense shoulders.

“You can come inside the restaurant and use the phone, or we can wait outside and you can call her on my cell phone if that makes you more comfortable. My old man and I just didn’t want you out here and lost by yourself.”

While the neighborhood around them wasn’t specifically unsafe, it certainly wasn’t the place a child should be walking alone.

“The restaurant?” Kana asked quietly.

“Well, that might be a stretch,” the teen said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. “It’s more like a café I guess.”

Kana followed the teen’s gesture and looked up to see a coffee shop with a variety of pastries in the window. The café was small and cramped like most places in the city, but the windows were nicely decorated with diamond-cut stained glass. The black, mauve and deep mahogany color scheme managed to make the small restaurant look incredibly classy and well-kept.

The words “Joker’s Patisserie” were written in delicate script on a wooden sign hanging above the door. A small sandwich board also sat near the front door depicting a white rabbit mascot wearing a jester hat. The little creature pointed a cartoonish wand at the drink and dessert specials of the day on the boards.

Kana’s teary eyes popped open to the size of blooming wildflowers. In almost an instant, his sadness was replaced with wonder.

“I wanna use the phone inside!”

If it had been any other occasion, Corrin would have absolutely been terrible at parallel parking.

However, the stakes were high enough that she didn’t overthink the process as she neatly slid between two tightly packed cars a few feet away from the “Joker’s Patisserie” café.

It had only been about half an hour since she’d originally gotten a call on her cell phone from an unrecognized number. The woman instantly felt hope brim up inside her knowing that it wasn’t a work phone call. Only one person had her number; her son.

The call had started with, “Um, hello? My name is Dwyer, and I’m calling to let you know your son Kana is okay. We found him lost outside our restaurant. He says that you might be at work right now, but we stay open pretty late so you can come pick him up as soon as you can. Our address is…”

Corrin wrote down the address, thanked the sleepy-sounding teenager, and shoved her phone right back into her coat pocket before restarting her car’s engine and making a beeline for the café. The trip would have been shorter if she hadn’t had to right city traffic, but it was still better than walking or waiting for a bus. Even if the caller said he was okay, she didn’t want to leave her baby alone in a place with strangers. He’d probably already had a traumatic day and she wanted to rush to his side as soon as possible.

Upon parking the car and setting the brake with a little more force than what was probably needed, she jumped out and ran in her work coat and heels down to the café. She opened the door and instantly ducked inside.

“Kana?”

The inside of the café was decently busy, so her initial call was drowned out by the sounds of customers and the soft sound of bossa nova music coming from over the sound system. The woman looked around and saw two waitresses, one with blue hair and another with pink hair, serving tables and juggling trays of fruity desserts and rainbow-colored drinks.

The interior of the shop was incredibly narrow with a bar on one side and a few tables for seating on the left. She didn’t see her son at any of the booths and looked around for a staff member to talk to. Almost immediately she pinpointed someone behind the counter with long pale hair and neatly pressed clothes. He didn’t look like the sluggish teenager she’d pictured talking to on the phone, but he wasn’t talking to any customers at the moment. She took the opportunity to grab him while he was free and circled the bar to meet him.

“Excuse me,” she said as he turned again to arrange glassware on a shelf behind the bar. “I’m looking for someone.”

The man turned around swiftly to meet her gaze. He certainly didn’t look dangerous or threatening enough to incite suspicion, but he also looked quite older than the individual she had spoken to on the phone. Instead she pursed her lips and said quickly, “I spoke to someone named Dwyer over the phone who said you found my son outside your restaurant. Um...are you...?”

“Oh no,” the man said, his voice heavily accented. Corrin realized immediately the man she was speaking to wasn’t the teen she’d spoken to on the phone. Before she could become panic-stricken, he continued, “You spoke to my son, Dwyer. You’re to pick up Kana, correct?”

“Yes!” she replied breathlessly, hope returning to her eyes. “I did! I would have been here earlier, but the traffic was awful. I’m so sorry, but when I came in, I didn’t see him and…”

The woman realized very quickly that she was babbling in her anxious state and forced herself to calm down as best she could. She continued with more poise, “I’m sorry for not introducing myself. I’m Kana’s mother, Corrin. I work at the Vallite City Hall on the corner of 6th and 25th street.”

“Ah, I see,” the man replied with a smile. “My son is watching him right now in the back. Your boy was a little teary, so we thought it would be better for him to calm down somewhere with less noise and people.”

“Oh, thank you,” Corrin said, practically beside herself with gratefulness. Before she could continue, she heard the sound of a door click open and saw her son standing in the doorway to the café’s back area. His eyes were still a little puffy from crying, but otherwise he looked perfectly fine.

“Mama!” he cried gleefully. The boy bolted so fast across the restaurant that he managed to cross the wide threshold between them in only a few steps. Corrin threw her arms open and pulled him into a tight hug, picking him up and twirling him about. The act caused Kana to squeal with delight. The woman dotted his face with kisses and held him close to her heart, which was still racing from anxiety.

“Kana, I’m so glad you’re oaky,” she said, using her free hand to push down some locks of hair that were standing up after his aerial rendezvous. “I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Kana said, still holding his mom tightly even after she went to place him back on the ground. “I got lost and tried to find my way home. I should have called you sooner.”

“No, it’s my fault,” Corrin said sincerely as she cupped her son’s face. “We should have practiced the route more. We’ll find a way to get you to and from school where you can’t get lost, okay?”

“Okay,” the boy said with a nod. “I’d like that.”

As the mother and son duo reconciled, Dwyer went into the back to grab Kana’s backpack from where they’d waited in the back. The teen walked up silently and placed the bag beside Kana and Corrin, and stepped back just as carefully as if not to disturb them. The man behind the counter gave his son a thankful nod and went back to polishing glasses nonchalantly.

“Thank you so much,” Corrin said again as she reached out to take Kana’s bag and slip it onto his shoulders. “I can’t thank you both enough.”

“It was our pleasure,” Dwyer said with a smothered yawn. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you, Dwyer,” Corrin said. She then turned her attention to the slightly older man behind the counter who had said he was Dwyer’s father. “And thank you too…um…”

“Jakob,” the man replied kindly with a tip of the head. Although his tone was polite, there seemed to be an air of forced disinterest around him now that Kana was safe with his mother. It was as if he was trying way too hard to seem modest. “Please don’t thank me. My son did all the work. I’m just happy he’s okay.”

Kana made a face at Jakob’s indifference. “Mama, Jakob also gave me a lot of tissues and told me about the buses around here so I wouldn’t get lost again.”

Jakob blushed a little bit at the boy’s statement and went back to doing some kind of busy work behind the counter. Even if Jakob didn’t return Corrin’s thankful stare, he certainly noted it.

“That’s not all,” Kana said cheerfully. “Dwyer said he goes to high school right down the block from me! He knows the area really well too.”

“He does?” Corrin asked with a laugh. “What a coincidence. Maybe we’ll have to stop in after school for some snacks soon.”

“Yay!” Kana said, throwing his fists up into the air as she danced around in circles.

“Well, if you both come back, your next order will be on the house,” Jakob replied in response to Kana’s excitement. It seemed that even his cold, semi-introverted nature wasn’t exempt from Kana’s charm. “My son and I run this place, so you’re both always welcome.”

Corrin gave him an appreciative look. Even after all the trouble she must have caused them, they were still kind enough to welcome her back. The woman made a secret promise to come back after her next paycheck and get a sizable order of food from them. They deserved to be thanked somehow, in her mind.

“Thank you, Jakob” Corrin said with a nod as she softly opened the café door. She hadn’t noticed before due to her panicked state, but he was certainly very attractive. While his handsomeness had registered at the time, she certainly didn’t dwell on it.

Now as he returned her grin and watched her exit the café, she thought that perhaps there would be a reason besides sweets and desserts to return to the quirky little café.

With a lovely smile, she replied, “I’ll remember that.”

[To be continued]

Who was Kana’s father, you ask? Whoever you want it to be. I don’t want to scrutinize anyone’s favorite Fates pairings, so Corrin’s former spouse can be anyone you like (or don’t.)

I also imagine here that Kana’s has Corrin’s hair color and Dwyer has Jakob’s.

[persorene]

I know you've written every topic under the sun for Jokamu but my thirst isn't quenched. Can I get a short little writing in which Jakob confesses to Corrin while they're still in the fortress?

Sure thing! Enjoy!

“Corrin.” Jakob choked, her name suddenly like a foreign language in his mouth “Can I have a moment alone with you?”

“Of course you can!” The princess giggled, gripping his hand in her own. “It’s nothing bad I hope?”

“No… well. Maybe. I- I… I need to talk to you about it.”

“All this suspense will drive me mad, come with me.” She teased, tugging him along behind her as she darted down the corridor, pulling him out onto the balcony with her. The valley below was as grey and somber as ever, a cold wind blew, sending their hair dancing along it’s currents.

“Well-”

“Corrin I-” Jakob awkwardly interrupted, his face burning despite the blustering chill.

“Yes?” She looked at him, her captivating eyes holding him prisoner.

Jakob swallowed hard, balling up his fists at his sides “I must confess something.” He muttered.

“What is it?”

“All my time here, I have dwelt with a strange ache in my heart. For years I tried to bury it, to hide it, to force it from my mind. I fear I am not capable of doing so any longer.”

“What do you mean?” The small woman reached for his hand, running her thumb across his smooth skin as she searched his face.

“I have known true unhappiness in my life, I have felt agony and pain. I have survived when I was left to die. And yet, when I’m with you, the pain stops. My dark and dreary world is suddenly warm, as if the sun had appeared from behind a dark cloud.”

“Jakob…”

“I never imagined the true joy you could bring me. I… I can only hope that I also brighten your days.” He sheepishly looked away from her, his eyes lingering on his feet as he nervously tapped them.

“You know that you do.” She soothed, her hand now gripping his shoulder.

“I’m so pleased to hear that.” He smiled “Corrin, this may ruin everything. By this point I’m certain you know where I’m going with this, but I love you. I love every little thing about you. You are a stunning woman inside and out. I am so grateful to be your butler but I cannot deny that I am in love with you.

I can’t tell you that if you accepted me our lives would be good and happy. That we’d at last be free from the darkness that has plagued us both. I cannot promise you or give you the life a princess deserves.

But I can promise you my devotion, my loyalty, my respect and my unconditional love for a lifetime.

I can promise to always be there for you, to listen, to hold your hand. I will tell you everyday just how loved you are and I will strive to keep you happy.

I can promise to be at your side through anything that happens, any crisis, any struggle I will be there. And I will believe in you, I will dream your dreams and achieve your goals. I will cheer you on, I will encourage you because I know that you are capable of anything.

I will be your protector, your counsel, your friend, your advisor and your family. I will be your everything if only you’d let me.”

“Jakob-”

“No please, before you turn me away, I- I understand your hesitation. I am a butler and you a princess. The boundary between us is immense and I know that. But I also know that I love you. That I would do anything for you. I don’t care if I’m killed for this action, you must know how I feel for you. My Princess, I adore you with every fibre of my being.”

“Jakob!” Corrin shouted through a sob, a wide smile adorning her beautiful lips and her delicate features drenched in her own tears “I wasn’t going to turn you down. I love you too. Certainly you’ve realised that by now.”

“I had my suspicions and I’d hoped they were correct.” He laughed as he wiped the tears from her cheeks “I apologise for my outburst. I had no intentions to make you cry.”

“I’ve never been so happy in all my life, you silly man.” She sniffled, a half giggle escaping as she spoke. The princess wrapped her arms around her butler, revelling in the sensation as he held her close and stroked her hair.

“As I promised, I will strive to make you happy ever day.”

“What we’re doing is dangerous. You could be killed.”

“A life without your love isn’t a life worth living, really.” He mused as he kissed the top of her head.

“Well I don’t want you to die.”

“Don’t worry, my love. From now on, my outbursts will be… quieter. That one had just been building for years.”

“I liked it though, it’s so rare to see you speak that way.”

“Well, from this day forth, I will tell you every single day. I love you.” He whispered softly as he cradled her against him in the cool night air.

“I love you too.”

[persorene]

*pulls up to drive through window* yeah can i get uhhh cute mutual jokamu pining with a cute ending *slaps down 5 dollars*

One mutual pining fic, no angst and a side of happy ending coming right up! Please pull around to the next window._______________________________________________________________________The butler stood in the kitchen, mindlessly drying the dishes he'd just finished washing. He worked with the speed of a seasoned professional, wicking away the remaining water from their surfaces and stacking them neatly in the cabinets. His eyes were closed as he worked, listening to the delicate melody that his master was playing from the ballroom. The song was light and peaceful, with a somber, crooning undertone. It was quite like her, in a way; content but hiding pain below the surface. Her skill was impressive, she rarely played but when she did he was utterly captivated. He loved to sit and watch her as she pulled the notes from the keys, however, she was dreadfully self conscious about her music. She created most of her melodies herself and hated to have others hear them.Though always efficient, he worked twice as fast today, hoping to be able to catch a glimpse of the lovely young woman before she stopped playing. With the last dish settled into its place, he left the kitchen. Slowly and quietly he traipsed down the hall, avoiding the old wooden planks that he knew would squeak beneath his weight. He nudged one of the intricate double doors open, peering into the room. She sat her piano, red hair tucked behind her pointed ears, her long fingers dancing across the instrument. Her eyes were closed as she played, swaying to the rhythm. Her passion was intoxicating. He leaned on the door watching his master, his chest fluttering as his mind raced with thoughts of her.Her song began to wind down and he began to applaud softly. He knew she'd hate that he'd watched her, but he couldn't help it, she was as incredible as her song had been and she deserved praise."Jakob!" her cheeks burned a blazing crimson, her ruby eyes locking on to the white haired man watching her "How long have you been here!?" Her heart raced in her chest, he meant well and she knew that, but his presence alone was enough to fluster her.He smiled as he walked toward her "Two minutes maybe. Your song was lovely, milady. One of your own creation I assume?""Yes... but you know I hate when you watch me play. I'm no good at it." she turned her head away from him as she pouted, spilling her red hair down her back and shoulders."Nonsense! You're fantastic, princess. If I could play half so well I'd be thrilled. Alas, music is one pursuit that escapes my grasp." he lightly tapped one of the keys, summoning a high pitched note as he spoke.The princess twisted on her bench, turning her face up toward her butler "... I could teach you.""You needn't worry yourself over me, milady.""Oh stop that. You always teach me things, now let me show you something. Sit with me." She scooted down the bench in a very undignified manner, patting the space she'd made for him.He couldn't deny her, he'd never been able to. Jakob slid onto the wood beside her, feeling her warmth radiating toward him."Okay, first you-" she paused as she watched her own hands, trying to explain something that came so naturally to her "Okay, hold them like this." she lifted her splayed out hands toward him, giggling as he clumsily copied her."Like this?" he asked, displaying his very poor attempt to mimic her."No." she laughed "But you tried. Here, sit still." she stood quickly and moved behind him "Hold your hands over the keys."He did as instructed, barely hovering his large hands above the piano."Okay, now-" she leaned in, pressing her chest to his back and wrapping his arms around his chest. Her hands holding his, maneuvering his fingers into the correct positions. Her cheeks burned as if there were a fire beneath her skin, holding his hands in this way summoned a hundred thoughts that she knew better than to think.He was extraordinarily thankful that she couldn't see his face from this angle. His cheeks were flushed, her warmth and her body pressed into his back sent his heart racing. Even her aroma was tantalising, sweet and warm like a confection fresh from the ovens. Jakob cursed himself for not paying attention to her lesson, but how could he when she was holding him so."Think you can manage that?" She teased, drawing him from the haze of his daydream."Oh. Uhm, yes. I can" He stammered."Good!" She chimed, a brilliant smile growing across her pink tinted cheeks. The princess slid into place beside him on the bench, reveling in the sensation of his presence so near her."I'll play and then when I nod at you, just tap the note I showed you." she instructed as she lifted her dainty hands into place along the keys.Her fingers began to prance along the ivory, drawing forth a splendid array of notes and melodies. Jakob watched her, the sun glinting off her crimson eyes and flaming red hair, the gentle way she nodded at him to play the somber note she'd assigned. She was lovely and beautiful but more than that, she was pureness and kindness, a soul unmarred by the hate and anger that dwelled within him. She was his light, his savior and the woman he loved; the woman he'd die for. In these small moments with her, nothing else mattered. His mind drifted further and he wasn't sure if he was playing in time anymore, he truly would hate to disappoint her but drawing his eyes from her wasn't in his power.She could feel his gaze on her, warm and intense, stirring a fire within her. No one but him made her feel this way. He was he best friend and her butler. The classes dividing them meant nothing to her, it was wrong she knew, to think of him this way and yet she refused to stop. He was so kind and devoted, the moment she'd met him when he was only a small, frightened child, she'd felt a connection to him. In the years that had passed since, that connection had blossomed into a hidden love for the young man. She would lie, for his sake, and say he was a friend and nothing more, but she couldn't lie to herself. She loved him. She had always loved him. In her mindless state, her graceful fingers fumbled and her song snagged."I'm sorry." she whispered as she pulled her hands from the piano, twisting them nervously in her lap. Here in the dimly lit, cavernous room, only inches from her butler, she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her heart thundered at the intimacy of it all, at the idea that her lips were only inches from his own... she could cross the distance, if she were brave enough she could kiss him."Don't apologise milady. It's quite alright, I'm afraid my playing was rather poor anyway." he said quietly. His hand rested on the bench, the tip of his small finger lay against her thigh, he knew he should pull away but he didn't want to, and she didn't object to his proximity. He couldn't think of what to say to her, he'd never had trouble speaking to her, but it was all he could do not to pour his heart out to the girl."I should get back to work. Gunter will have my head if he-"Corrin gripped his hand, closing the space between him and cutting him of with a kiss. He hesitated, he wanted this more than anything, he wanted her touch, her kiss, her affection; all of it. But he was a butler and she a princess. He was the model of proper servitude in all regards but his love for her, it was wrong, it was brazen, it was a crime. And yet, he couldn't stop himself, none of that mattered when she kissed him, when she touched him, when she looked him with those glimmering eyes as if he were the sun itself. He loved her. It took him only a moment to overcome his fear, quickly returning her kiss."I'm sorry." she whispered yet again as she pulled back from him, her face glowing as red as her eyes."Don't apologise, milady." Jakob muttered, a delighted smile lingering on his lips. He ran his fingers through her hair as he studied every minute detail of her lovely face."Can I kiss you again?" she asked so softly he'd had to strain to hear her.He leaned in slowly, cupping her chin his hand as he pressed into her soft lips "My dear, you can kiss me as often as you like." he whispered as he pulled away.

[persorene]

Could I request some Jokamu? I really enjoyed your yandere Jakob prompt fic, I was wondering if I could ask for more of that? I hope tomorrow is better for you!

"Jakob, wake up." the old man shook the butler's shoulders roughly "Jakob. Up." he growled."Ungh, what? What do you want?" he sat up in bed, running his hands over his tired eyes and through his loose mass of hair."I've spotted intruders in the gardens." Gunter snapped."Well, that won't do." Jakob whispered, suddenly more awake "I'll check on Lady Corrin and then I'll remove the issue.""Would you like help?""I won't need it." he smirked as he stood up from his bed. The butler hastily dressed and attached his holster of daggers to his thigh. "I'll be back soon, old man."Jakob crept silently through the halls, pausing at his master's door, he stood still in the darkness, listening intently for any sign of distress. No sound met his ears, worry crawled through his being, his princess was a relatively noisy sleeper. He gently opened her door, being careful not to draw a creek from the old hinges in case she was asleep. Her room was bathed in the dancing light of a candle, the princess lay half propped up in her bed, a book open in her lap. Her crimson eyes drifted to the doorway, searching her butler. "Is something wrong?" she asked softly, though he always checked on her through the night, he was usually in bed by this hour.He smiled warmly at her, stepping closer to her bed. "No, of course not, my princess.""But, you're fully dressed and it has to be the early hours of the morning.""I assure you all is well." he fluffed her pillow gently and arranged it more comfortably behind her "Now, get some rest, I'll wake you in the morning.""Goodnight, Jakob." she smiled at him, sending his heart aflutter as only she could."Goodnight, princess. Sweet dreams." he muttered as he exited her room.--------------------------------------------------------------------Jakob stepped into the garden, the cool breeze sent his hair fluttering around his face. He stood still, bathed in the moonlight, listening for any sign of an intruder. The snap of a branch drew his attention to a cluster of shrubberies and flowering trees. A devious smirk twisted his lips upward, the butler slowly walked forward, the rage in the pit of his stomach was swirling and growing more intense."You seem to be lost." he spat into the darkness "For you see, this is my home, my master's home. We had not been expecting guests." he laughed softly as the dark outline of a man darted from the path and into the wall of greenery lining it."You appear to be under the impression that you can hide from me. But this is my territory. I will find you, and you will regret ever stepping foot in this place."Jakob strode slowly down the path, his boots landing with menacing thuds as he moved. His job was to handle to intruders, but no one said he couldn't have a bit of fun while he did so. The butler intentionally walked past the point in the brush that he knew the man was hiding in, waiting until the intruder breathed a soft sigh of relief.At the sound of his breath, Jakob spun on his heels, his arms delving into the leaves as his long fingers wrapping around the man's shoulders. In one swift movement, he'd thrown the man on the ground and pinned him down, straddling the man's chest. The butler grinned viciously as he pressed the tip of a dagger into the hollow of the intruder's throat, drawing a trickle of blood to the surface."Pl-please don't kill me." the man sputtered, he was Hoshidan, yet another attempt to steal the princess housed in the walls of the fortress.Jakob grimaced, pressing ever so slightly harder on the blade "But you wanted to kill her, didn't you?"The Hoshidan shook his head "No, no we had no intentions of killing her!""We? How many of you are there?""I won't tell you!" He growled, wiggling his chest in a vain effort to escape the surprisingly strong butler."Oh, I think you will." he chortled, plunging the tip of the blade barely into the man's throat.The kidnapper gurgled as his air supply was cut off momentarily "Okay, okay, stop and I'll tell you!""No, you'll tell me, then I'll move the blade.""How do I know you won't kill me when you get the information you want?""You have the nerve, the audacity, to come into my home, try to steal my master and then question me?" Jakob snarled "You're making all the wrong decisions should you ever wish to the light of day again. I don't need your answer. I can and will end you and find your companions myself.""You're insane!""No I'm not, and let me make this abundantly clear, I do not like to kill. However, the princess is very precious to me. Any threat to her will be handled swiftly. You are a threat. You have your options, either you tell me how many of you there are and I might allow you to live, or you don't tell me and I end your life here and now and then find your companions and do the same to them." His captive twisted under the blade again, desperately trying to escape."I wouldn't struggle if I were you. You'll only kill yourself faster." The Hoshidan tried once more, hissing as he felt the sharp edge coming ever closer to the vital veins barely protected by his flesh "Two." He growled "There are two of us. Myself and one other. I- I don't know where he's hiding. Now, please, let me go."Jakob smiled, lightly patting the kidnapper's cheek "Good man. As I said before, I don't enjoy killing and it upsets my princess so deeply when I do it, therefore, you are free." He lifted the dagger slowly "But, you will get up, you will turn, and you will run. If you are stupid enough to come back or attempt to save your companion, you will regret it with every fiber of your being should I allow you to live long enough to feel regret. Am I understood?"The man nodded."Well then, I think you and I can part for now." Jakob stood quickly. As soon as his weight was removed from the Hoshidan captive, he stood and darted into the night.  The butler turned, scanning the courtyard for the accomplice. His keen eyes fixated on a quivering shadow on one of the lower rooves. With alarming skill, he hurled a dagger into the darkness. It landed its hit with a resounding thud, the ninja growled in pain as he hit the ground below, clutching his calf where the blade was stuck. Jakob sprinted across the stone, hovering over the man and watching as he writhed in agony. "You were on the roof. I can only assume that means your friend was a decoy, meant to distract me as you made your way to my master."The Hoshidan couldn't respond, his mind was reeling from the pain, his fingers were dyed a stark red from his own blood."I let him go. I see now that was a mistake. Unfortunately, someone has to be held responsible for this intrusion. Certainly you understand." Jakob smirked, crouching down over the hapless man, his lips mere inches from his ear "I believe you have something of mine." He whispered. The butler reached his hand to the man's leg, firmly gripping the hilt of the blade, he viciously, slowly twisted the dagger, carving into the man's leg as he pulled it out. The Hoshidan lay screaming, gripping the new hole in his calf. His screams drew the attention of his comrade, he turned from his place on the path. He would have only one chance, any failure would cost him greatly. The ninja raised one hand, aiming the blade of a shuriken toward the demonic butler. In a swift throw, he hurled the projectile, praying it hit the Nohrian in a vital location. A dull sound met his ears, he had missed. The blade had only cut the man's shoulder.Jakob looked to gis bleeding shoulder and spun on his heels, running in a full sprint toward the man he'd shown mercy to. Before he had time to escape, Jakob had him thrown to the ground "I thought I had been clear. I thought we had  an agreement. Did I not say that you would regret any behaviour like this?" The hoshidan lay silently, awaiting his fate, whatever the dandy decided that may be."You will count yourself lucky. Being the merciful man that I am, your life will be spared. You owe me a thank you."The first ninja said nothing, glaring at his tormentor."I'm sorry? Perhaps this isn't the way you do it in Hoshido but in Nohr, if someone soares your life twice. TWICE. After you broke into their home in an attempt to kidnap a member of royalty, you say thank you.""Thank you." He growled."There now, that wasn't hard. But, this will be. I can't let you leave here unpunished. It just wouldn't make much sense. You came to my home, you tried to take my princess, you tried to distract me so your friend could take my princess. Now, your friend has a pretty serious leg wound, maybe with a bad leg I won't have to worry about him scaling my rooves at night. But don't worry! You'll get a parting gift as well."Jakob crouched down, placing the tip of his dagger against the man's forehead. He shivered as the cold metal met his flesh. With surgical precision, the butler carved two deep lines into the ninja's forehead, forming an X in the center, directly above his eyes. "Now if I ever see you again, and hopefully I won't, I'll know you wasted both your first and your last chance. Next time I'll take your life. Oh, and for good measure-" he swiftly plunged the blade into the man's thigh "Have fun hobbling home."-------------------------------------------------------------------"Goodmorning princess, I trust you slept soundly." Jakob smiled warmly, setting up her tray perfectly and arranging the vase of flowers he'd picked for her."I did!" She grinned as she lifted her fork "Did you ever go to bed last night? You checked on me so late.""Oh, don't worry about me, my princess, just a bit of work that needed dealt with." His heart ached just looking at her, each attempt to take her away only made him realize how very much she meant to him. Jakob hissed in pain as he lifted his right arm to open her curtains, the wound on his shoulder was worse than he'd originally thought but he would take any pain for her."Jakob are you hurt? What happened." Corrin suddenly hopped from her bed, crossing the floor to be at his side."I'm fine, Lady Corrin. I just pulled it last night while I was finishing up my work.""You silly thing. You do far too much for me, I'm so lucky to have you. I know I don't say it enough but I appreciate how hard you work for me. You're the best friend I could ever have.""Oh, milady, that means more to me than you could ever know."