#so close to getting married

[neonpaperlanterns]

Share this Burden Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: Today

[Part Five] [Part Six] [Part Seven] [Part Nine]

(A/n: Things have been oddly domestic so far. They aren't getting along but things are okay.... I can't wait to ruin that)

Ume knew he wanted to say something. He wasn’t mad at her not anymore but an inkling of frustration still lingered. She didn’t want to deal with it though. She was exhausted and feeling strung out. 

He hadn’t said anything as he set her down. She hoped that his indecision would carry on for the rest of the day. Sluggishly she made her way down the hallway. The need to lay down was borderline unbearable. Though when she came upon her room she stopped. The door was leaning haphazardly against the wall. Splinters of wood littered the ground and the doorframe was in shambles.

Shame and embarrassment fizzled behind her. Turning she looked up at Sakazuki. He wasn’t looking at her, instead he was very invested in the wall. Ume opened her mouth to say something but she snapped it shut. He hasn’t said anything about her venture outside so she wouldn’t ask about any of this.

“You should get some rest.” He still wasn’t looking at her as he scratched along his neck. Nodding along with his suggestion she stepped over the mess.

“I’ll wake you in a few hours.” She let out an acknowledging hum as she buried herself under the blanket. Curling around a pillow, she focused on Sakazuki’s emotions. Pushing out anything else she honed in on him. Picking apart his apprehension and stilted eagerness until it all swirled into a mass of muddled hues as she fell asleep.

Sakazuki stood in the doorway for a moment longer. Watching as her breathing slowly evened out. He had wanted to say more, ask her why she left but it hadn’t felt worth it. Not right now anyway. His gaze drifted towards the door leaning against the wall. The cracked wood glaring at him as he ran his hand down his face.

People say that one’s wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of their life. And even if he didn’t feel as if that were entirely true he had no intention of ruining today. He refused to give anyone room to needle his decisions. He wanted this. He wanted her. After today was done she would be his and there would be no room for doubt. 

Letting out a low sigh he looked at Ume one more time. Her form was mostly hidden under the blanket, only the top of her head poked out. She was unnaturally still, even when unconscious her body refused to relax. He wanted to do something to put her at ease but he couldn't. He didn't know what he would even do and he needed to get ready. It was the most important day of their lives after all.

A gentle hand ran over her back as Ume slowly cracked her eyes open. Blinking against the soft light it took a moment for her vision to come into focus. Tilting her head slightly she stared at Sakazuki. She can’t remember the last time she was woken up so kindly.

“It’s time to get up.” He removed his hand and lifted up from the bed. Sitting up herself she rubbed at her eyes. Sleep still clawed at her, she wanted nothing more than to slip back under the covers. 

“Come on, you need to get ready.” What was she getting ready for? Her confusion must have played across her face because he sighed as he picked her up. 

“We’re getting married today.” He said it so dully, like he was talking about the weather. It was funny really, his expression so at war with how he was actually feeling.

“Oh.” Her response affected him more than he was willing to show. His desire for her to want this made his jaw twitch. 

“We leave in an hour and half.” She had upset him with her lackluster response. She sighed as he slammed the bathroom door shut. Maybe she should have tried to muster up something more? Assured him in some way no matter how shallow it would have been. She knew that he didn’t get why she was doing this. It wasn’t clear but she thinks a part of him was convinced she wanted this in a similar way that he did. He didn’t understand and she hadn’t tried to explain it. Honestly she didn’t truly want to tell him that this was a marriage of convenience. At least for her it was. But when this was all over she wasn’t going to have much of a choice. She really didn’t know how he would take it when it was all said and done. 

Maybe he would come to regret his rash decision making and unwillingness to listen to reason. Or maybe he would double down and still tell himself he wanted her.

Rubbing at her temple and the slowly building headache she went to turn on the shower. Steam slowly filled the room as she stood under the water. Letting herself get lost in thought as she scrubbed at her skin. There were things she never thought she would have again after she had been taken. 

Being able to see the sun.

Eating.

Sleeping without fear.

Though the one want that took the longest to leave her was being clean. The simple joy of washing the day away was something she had ached for. It was a thought that plagued her as she laid on that cold blood streaked floor. 

Ume’s eyes slipped closed as she woefully turned the water off. She wanted to stay in this humid wonderful bubble forever. She had to tell herself that this wouldn’t be the last time. 

Stepping out of the shower she took note that there was a black bag hanging on the back of the door. She reached for the zipper as she dried off. Dragging the tab down revealing more and more flowing white fabric. Slipping it off fully she took in the pristine kimono. It was soft to the touch and had intricately embroidered flowers dancing along the edges.

It was beautiful.

Ume almost didn’t want to put it on. She didn’t want to ruin it but she could feel Sakazuki pacing. He was getting antsy, his nerves buzzed through the house. Carefully she got dressed. Layering and smoothing the fabric as she went. 

She dared to look at the mirror when she finished. Her dark hair was in stark contrast with the white. It brought attention to her face and how pale she was. Color was gradually returning to her complexion and her cheeks were slowly filling out but a picture of a perfect bride she did not make. She knew her eyes still looked sunken and while the bruising under them was lessening it was still there. She looked more akin to a corpse than a blushing bride.

Ume tried not to think too hard about that. Instead she focused on the only color in her ensemble. The deep crimson obi was the only thing preventing her from being entirely monochrome. 

She liked it. 

Red meant life. It told her that she was alive.

Taking a deep breath she exited the bathroom. Sakazuki was waiting in the hallway, his back against the wall as his fingers drummed along his forearm. His gaze roamed over her. He wanted to touch her. It was his strongest thought. She watched as his hand raised like he was actually going to but it dropped back into place.

“Come sit down.” Tilting her head at him curiously she did as she was told. Sitting down in one of the kitchen chairs she felt small as he towered above her.

He was apprehensive again and she didn’t understand why. 

“Is-” Ume stopped as she felt his hands in her hair. They were careful as he twisted her hair up. She felt a few loose strands fall on the side of her face as something was slipped into place. His thumb rubbed along her neck as he rounded the chair. Contentment settled over her as he grabbed her hand. Ushering her out of the seat his fingers intertwined with hers.

Sakazuki’s hand was massive and encompassed her much smaller one. She let him pull her along as she tightened her grip. He was warm, borderline uncomfortably so. It made her palm clammy but she didn’t want to let go.

Ume can’t remember the last time she held someone's hand. She hoped rather childishly that when today came to a close he might still want to hold her hand.

[unpersoniverse]

Skén:nen sá:sewh

as promised, here's Precious boy™ getting kissed by Precious wife™ because he deserves all the love in the world :cc

translation: Get home safe

[bunnykaye]

💚BONUS Polin Week💚 day three | Mutual Pining

[desomniis]

Pre-wedding photoshoot for their very gay, Ferrari-themed, wedding

[kcrabb88]

Goin’ to the chapel (courthouse) and we’re gonna get marriedddd 💕

@librarianladyx

[dhmis-autism]

been thinking about them lately ok

[arsenicflame]

It's a time-honoured tradition- every time Sam comes across Izzy (and Ed) in their travels, he asks Izzy to marry him. And every time, Izzy turns him down.

At this point, Sam is asking more for the sake of it than any belief Izzy will ever say yes, a remnant of childhood dedication touched with 30 years of heartbreak and regret- though even now, a small part of him still holds out hope. Sam's promises have only got more extravagant over the years, from a job as his first mate, to a captaincy, a fleet at his command, a whole fucking island if that's what Izzy wants- but he knows it isn't though, not really. If Izzy was ever going to agree to marry him, to leave his life and go with Sam, it wouldn't be for anything Sam could offer him. Izzy never did care for flashy shows of wealth, for a ship or to be captain. The only thing that ever mattered to him was loyalty given, and loyalty shown in return. 

It all comes to a head after Stede left and came back, after Izzy lost a toe, lost his leg. Sam hasn't seen him since before things with Ed started to really slide off the rails, before stress permanently set into the lines of Izzy’s face. So, when he sees a dishevelled man with a hoof for a leg in a no-name port, he doesn't even consider the idea that he might know him. It's only when he turns towards him, and Sam catches a glance at those oh too familiar tattoos, he realises this is Izzy, his Izzy, that stands before him.

Knowing Izzy's discomfort with pity, he doesn't treat him any differently than he would in years gone by, positioning himself in Izzy's line of sight before approaching and sweeping him up into a bone crushing hug. 

“Israel-goddamn-Hands!” he exclaims, as Izzy grumbles back a begrudging “Samuel-fucking-Bellamy”, a tradition almost as old as their friendship itself. Izzy might not hug him back, but he can’t keep the corner of his mouth from twitching, just for a second.

(If Sam holds Izzy a little tighter and a little longer than usual, well. That's his business)

By the time Sam lets go, most of the crew has appeared in the town square, drawn in by the commotion. They may have given Izzy his leg and welcomed him as one of them, but still there’s an underlying tension, with nobody quite ready to set aside everything that happened before the Kraken. Seeing him cosying up to an unknown man sets everyone on edge, unsure whether to come to their first mate’s aid, or to assume that they've been betrayed once again.

When Ed sees that the yelling was Sam, his hand goes tense where it's held in Stede's. He knows the routine, has seen it more times than he can count, but as he watches them part he realises that this is the first time in a long time he's unsure of what Izzy's response will be.

Knowing that something’s different, knowing that Izzy's feeling vulnerable already, Sam doesn't go for the same flashy proposal he’s been giving for years. He doesn't promise Izzy the world, he doesn't cause a scene (or, any more of a scene than he already has, anyway). He looks at the fractured man in front of him, takes his face in his hands, and says the exact same thing to him he said when they were little more than boys. “Israel, I have to ask you. I know what you'll say, but I have to try. Come with me. Marry me and sail away with me. I'll keep you safe”

And Izzy… hesitates. He glances over at Ed, at Stede, and says to Sam “...We’re staying in port for a week. Ask me again then”

That's the moment Sam knows there is something deeply, horribly, wrong. He's not just looking at an Izzy who got seriously injured in a fight and is struggling to cope, this is something so much bigger than that- and that Ed has something to do with it. Izzy wouldn't even be considering leaving if he didn't. Whether it was negligence or something more sinister, Sam doesn't yet know, but he intends to find out.

[moranapologist]

how do I tell teenagers jackjoke who meet at the bar that they're getting married and adopting a child with the guy they're so smitten with?

[purplecelestial-buddy]

There's many little details in Harusono's works that tend to take space in my mind (like the background gag of the boys piling up bottles) but one of them is this picture:

There's cake, there's a ton of people and there's someone being thrown???

Idk I just think that they Kagiuras are probably great pary guests.

Full panel for more context:

[puppyeared]

learning abt friendship decay and "not reaching out to your friends for months at a time unprompted is not neurotypical behaviour" has me feeling a certain way

[angeart]

[To the Rest of Our Lives Together, Unafraid]

absently, he fidgets with the ring freshly on his finger, as scar's jaunty whistling reaches him.

they're married now.

really, truly married. for life.

for lives. because they're going to have multiple. they're going to have an endless number of them, all of them shared, bound and meant to be together.

--- Scar here

[ruvviks]

PLEASE DO NOT TAG AS YOUR OWN OC OR PAIRING.

Nathan and Ruben share a bond more powerful than most; mutual understanding through past experiences no one should ever have to go through, and through past actions so horrible they cannot be spoken of. Their grief and the blood on their hands binds them to the STEM technology they created, which has alienated them from the rest of the world— but they give each other the comfort they have both longed for so desperately for years, and that is all they need. They are each other's counterpart; you cannot imagine one without the other, like two sides of the same coin. Through their pain, their grief, their desire, and their regret, they have become one.

anna akhmatova, the guest // bones; equinox // 'i won't become' by kim jakobsson // agustín gómez-arcos, the carnivorous lamb // by oxy // achilles come down; gang of youths // czeslaw milosz, from 'new and collected poems: 1931-2001' // 'extended ambience portrait from a resonant biostructure' and 'migraine tenfold times ten' by daniel vega // a little death; the neighbourhood // marina tsvetaeva, from 'poem of the end' // by drummnist // katie maria, winter // 'nocturne in black and gold the falling rocket' by james abbott mcneill whistler // micah nemerever, these violent delights // body language; we are fury // 'the penitent' by emil melmoth // chelsea dingman, from 'of those who can't afford to be gentle'

taglist (opt in/out)

@shellibisshe, @florbelles, @ncytiri, @hibernationsuit, @stars-of-the-heart;

@lestatlioncunt, @katsigian, @radioactiveshitstorm, @estevnys, @adelaidedrubman;

@celticwoman, @rindemption, @carlosoliveiraa, @noirapocalypto, @dickytwister;

@killerspinal, @euryalex, @ri-a-rose, @velocitic, @thedeadthree

[rush-the-stars]

thinking depraved thoughts about nanami x gojo x reader mafia au

[swordmaid]

i am wide awake thinking about that post canon jb au again when I should be sleeping …!!! such is the nature of the jbrainrot…

[merakiui]

learning that rollo eats the same lunch (16 grapes, 2 croissants, 1 café au lait) every day is so funny to me. he’s so cute. T-T rollo, please eat a feast. you deserve it. why limit yourself to the same thing over and over?

also his voice line where he invites you to check out the mostro lounge with him. saying, “i like cafés. shall we take a look?” casually asking you out on a date…… rollo, you’re exceptionally cute.

[forestgreenlesbian]

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