#rare smiles

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Vesuvia Weekly: M6's Rare Smiles

Julian:

a peaceful smile. his face relaxes, the tension around his mouth smoothens, and the look in his eyes has a rare stillness, as though the anxious energy permeating his brain has finally found a moment of rest. it's a small smile. his lips are slightly parted, his blinks are slower and heavier, and the world stands still for a moment to breathe

Asra:

a vulnerable smile. their guard is down, the carefully maintained relaxed energy of their poker face disappears, and they become more expressive than you could have imagined. he meets your eyes with unimaginable levels of trust as emotions flicker across his face like pages turning, and responds to your safety with a wobbly grin

Nadia:

a grateful smile. still elegant, still dignified, but the cold edges of her regal bearing thaw just enough to let her eyes soften in your direction as she mouths a "thank you" after you've helped her. for someone who hates accepting help, she finds she enjoys depending on you more than she thought possible and loves to share that joy with you

Muriel:

a laughing smile. he does laugh more often with you around, but it's usually something pulled from him begrudgingly in the form of a brief snort. this is the smile of a belly laugh, his head tossed back and oh-so-briefly carefree, shoulders relaxing enough to shake with chortles as his eyes crinkle shut with laughter. it's a sight for you and you only

Portia:

a sad smile. for someone as comfortable with her emotions as she is, she doesn't like people seeing her sad unless she mixes it with anger, or jealousy, or concern. but you get to see the wobbly midnight smile, sent your way after she's gazed into the fireplace next to you and spoken about all the things she's missed with tears on her cheeks

Lucio:

a thoughtful smile. it's no secret that, for all of his smart instincts, he doesn't like spending any more time thinking than he has to. you, though - you make him want to think, about the future, about who he is, about what he's lost and gained, about fixing mistakes. never for more than five minutes, but the contemplative smile is beautiful

[mermaidchan05]

Vesuvia Weekly: Smiles that Grew Rarer

Thinking about Asra’s relieved smile. The little glimmer of sunlight after the dark, a brief respite after waking up from a nightmare, a tiny laugh after a spell went wrong and frightened everyone, the teary-eyed smile when he found his apprentice was safe. Thinking about the way that relieved smile might still peek in every once in a while. But now he knows how strong his apprentice is. Now he can show all the other smiles he kept secret before: smiles of pride, of gratitude, of love. Thinking about how his relief has faded to a constant, comfortable feel of hope and peace.

Thinking about Julian’s theatrical, sinister smile. The sneer carefully created to shout: I am the villain of this story. The expression he used whenever he needed to, which became far too often far too quickly. Thinking about how he doesn’t need to play the bad guy anymore… not unless he wants to. Thinking about how nice of a change it is for Julian, to be a hero to those who love him.

Thinking about Nadia’s tightest, falsest smiles. The smile she gave whenever she was forced to pretend she knew exactly what was going on despite her lost memories. The smile that hid the building pressure of a headache that would have put anyone else out of commission, but that Nadia must push through. The smile that lied: “Why yes, I would love to continue this inane conversation.” Thinking of how whenever she gives a smile like that now, someone can reach for her hand, and the smile can grow more genuine. Thinking about how she doesn’t need to fake her knowledge or confidence anymore. She doesn’t need to pretend she knows what she’s doing… she knows, and she is going to show it.

Just thinking of smiles that have gotten more and more rare now… and how that’s a good thing.

[vesuviaweekly]

Vesuvia Weekly: Prompt for April 17th - May 1st

You voted, so here it is!

Rare Smiles

With that, the "Nightmares and Daydreams" prompt is officially closed!

The tags are the usual #vesuvia weekly and for this specific prompt, #rare smiles. The masterlist for all works submitted for this prompt will be under the poll for next week :D

MASTERLIST

Smiling Days and Rare First Things by @thehegemoncaller

M6's Rare Smiles by @iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia

Rare Smiles by @fox-daddy

Little Smiles by @sweetestlittledarling

Smiles that grew rarer by @mermaidchan05

Rare Smiles - Julian Devorak by @moon-upright

[sweetestlittledarling]

Little Smiles

Three short stories of how the Songbirds and the Love Interests Share Special Smiles. I wanted to include all of them in someway so that's why these are a bit more like drabbles and they are special to each character.

True Smile (Lark/Muriel)

It was on a summer evening when Muriel saw it again. Muriel didn’t even realize it until he looked up from the tapestry in his lap and looked across the firelit room. Ianna was asleep in her spot, happily snoring as Lark sat not far away studying his own tapestry with a surprisingly careful eye. Muriel watched Lark for a bit, feeling something was different but unable to put his finger on it. The younger man was humming to a tune Muriel could not place but that wasn’t anything new. Where Muriel was silent Lark was always making some kind of noise. The only time he could ever truly be quiet was when he was asleep though not always. It had bothered Muriel in the beginning, but it had started to grow on him like the rest of Lark. But that wasn’t it…. wait…

                Lark was smiling.

                It was calm, a small upturn of the lips that would have been missed if someone wasn’t looking carefully. It made Muriel pause a moment as he realized that this was a rare occurrence. He had witnessed it before, a few times on their journey together, mostly when they were being honest with each other. But, here, in their home, where there was no journey to make nor dangers to face...

                It was comfortable.

                Muriel rose from his seat and moved quietly over to the other side of the room. Lark looked up as he came over, still smiling. “Sorry, was I humming too loud?”

                Muriel shook his head as he sat down, his body bumping Lark’s gently as they were now very close. “It’s nicer over here,” he said. He felt a happy warmth spread through him as Lark’s smile grew a little and felt a little bit of weight as Lark leaned against him.

                Muriel’s lips turned upwards as the humming continued.

Side Note:

*This story was inspired by the Vocaloid song ‘Pierrot’ which has always made me think of the emotional journey between Lark and Muriel (with Lark being the nameless clown). My favorite cover is by a youtuber Ashe who I think sounds a lot like what I Imagine Lark’s singing voice to sound like.

...

Playful Smile (Sparrow/Julian)

“I can’t thank you and Julian enough for what you have done for these children,” Mother Dolores said one sunny afternoon.

                Sparrow laughed as she watched Julian, currently the villainous Captain Devorak, run after the many children who were screaming and laughing as he charged after then again, chasing them from one side of the courtyard to the next. “You don’t have to thank us mother. I think in all honestly this is Julian’s favorite day of the month.”

                “I think it’s the orphan’s favorite day as well,” Dolores agreed, letting out her own little laugh as she watched the scene. “They rarely get an adult playmate who is so animated as the doctor is. He really is like a child himself.”

                “Don’t I know it,” Sparrow sighed happily. It was nice to see Julian let loose and not look like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. She wished there could be more moments like these. Just as the thought hit her she watched as Julian tripped trying to snag another child and took a face plant into the pavement causing several of the kids to cry out in surprise. She could hear Dolores cry out, but Sparrow was quick to move, kneeling at the motionless doctor’s side. “Julian! Darling, are you okay?”

                Julian’s lips turned upwards as with his one visible eye he gave a quick wink before shutting it again.

                Sparrow looked around at all the concerned child faces gathered around and realized exactly the part she would have to play. Carefully she flipped Julian on to his back, noting any battle wounds and then dramatically put one hand to her heart and her other wrist to her forehead. “Oh, my darling Julian! Please children! I can’t bare to look! Will you see if he is breathing?!”

                The children peered in cautiously, whispering concerns and hopes that their large playmate was okay. Right when they were all close enough Julian’s eyes snapped open and he burst upwards, uttering a sound of excitement as all the children jumped back in terror and surprise. “You think that a simple fall can defeat the famed Captain Devorak?! It would take a greater fall then that to defeat me!”

                The children cheered as the chase began once again.

…

                As the sun set in the evening, Julian and Sparrow said goodbye to all the children. A little girl tugged at Julian’s shirt and the doctor squatted down to look her in the face. “Is there something I can do for you my dear?” he asked smiling. The girl said nothing, but wrapped her arms around the doctor’s neck in a tight hug and placed a paper in his hand before running off to join the other children for supper. Julian’s face was beat red as Sparrow helped him out of the building, her arm wrapped around his waist with one of his arms wrapped around her shoulders. The paper turned out to be a picture, a childlike drawing of the doctor and all the children with the words ‘Thank you Doctor Devorak’ in big letters across the bottom.

                Sparrow smiled as she gave Julian a little squeeze. “We’ll have to get it framed.”

                “Indeed,” Julian said, a smile gracing his features. “I think I have the perfect spot in my office for it.”

                “Though first, we probably should take care of that headwound from earlier as well as that knee that I figure must be the size of a pumpkin by now.”

                Julian laughed and winced as he leaned on Sparrow for support. The scrape on his forehead was still rather red though luckily wasn’t bleeding, even though it was noticeable. “A few battle scars are worth it when it comes to the enjoyment of those children!” Julian declared. “Plus, if anything it gets me a night under the tender care of my favorite doctor who isn’t actually a doctor.”

                “Oh, who is that exactly?”

                “Why you my dear Sparrow, I trust no hands but yours to treat my wounds and my heart,”

Side Note:

*I imagine that as a part of cleaning up the city an orphanage is finally built and you know Julian is fighting every darn doctor in that city to take care of those kids. It maybe only once a month but heck if he is going to let anyone else have one of his favorite days.

...

Heartfelt Smile (Robin/Asra)

It started in his chest. He could feel a warmth that spread outwards like a fire, not burning but enough to warm his inner being. Robin recognized the magic nature of it almost immediately as a little smile tugged at his lips.

                “You seem to be in a good mood,” Sparrow mused, giving him a bit of a waggling eyebrow.

                Robin laughed. “It’s just a nice day is all.”

                “Sure, it is,” Sparrow answered, rolling her eyes playfully.

                She couldn’t know exactly what was going on and It almost made Robin feel like he was keeping a happy secret. Him, the responsible older brother keeping secrets?  It was kind of nice having this one thing to himself and it made him smile just a bit more.

                “Well, I am going to go make us some tea,” Sparrow said as she passed by him to the kitchen. “Want me to make you a cup?”

                “Yes, please and probably make one for Asra as well.”

                “You rang?” Asra chuckled as he appeared from the back smiling wide, “is it teatime?”

                “Sparrow is making some now,” Roblin said as he came around the counter, meeting the magician halfway.

                Asra sighed happily as he slipped into Robin’s arms with snake like grace. “Mmm, so warm,” he hummed, “I was just thinking about how happy I would be to be in your arms again.”

                Robin laughed again. “Really, I hadn’t noticed.”

Side Note:

*This one comes from the idea of the fact that Robin and Asra share a heart so they share kind of a secret feeling. A smile if you will. The twins kind of know about it but would never fully understand. In the past Robin and Asra shared a more mental magic connection but now it’s through the heart which I think works better for them.

[cohlemoon]

[gaypeople]

May I have this dance?

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[shakingparadigm]

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FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[hana-mural]

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[sippihippie]

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[darkest-before-dawnclan]

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[papanowo]

was looking thru the mermaid au tag on ao3 a couple months ago and realised bones is rarely the mermaid so i sought to change that