#v: Yakuza ; medieval AU

[stingslikeabee]

It was known as Queen's Day ( or so Daigo affectionately called it ). Every year, on the day of Melissa's birth, Koutetsujima celebrated their King's wife ; the affair doubled as a sort of winter festival, while the weather was still serviceable to be out in. Daigo had declared the holiday official his first year as the new ruler of the islands, and it was secretly his favorite. All of Koutetsujima's citizens dressed traditionally, with Melissa's ladies helping her into her formal robes and pinning up her hair. The court reaffirmed the royal couple's marriage as well as their loyalty to the Queen and pricked their thumbs to stamp in blood on the scrolls stating so. Once the formalities of the day were through, Daigo took Melissa ( and their young children, each corralled and in the appropriate attire ) to the castle grounds. They were alive — with lanterns, fire pits, little games for anyone's amusement, classic Koutetsujima music, and warm foods. All of the royal family's friends and allies from the islands were in attendance, milling about and laughing.

Normally, Daigo and Melissa would stand in the entrance. This year, though, the former renegade prince had other plans. As they entered to applause and a swell of song, the King motioned for Mine, who was standing near, to take the children for a few moments. He was a sour - faced but secretly doting babysitter. Grinning, Daigo wrapped his arm around Melissa's waist and pulled her toward a knot of people.

"I have a surprise for you," he whispered, ducking his head down toward her. His dark eyes gleamed with his sense of purpose. "Where is . . . — ah."

Suddenly, the King stopped. His gift to his wife became clear the moment she turned around. Azumi Akiyama, Melissa's closest friend — and a face entirely unfamiliar to Koutetsujima. Even when her husband visited for diplomatic events, the Lady Akiyama preferred not to. She was always too scared to leave the Solarian palace in hands besides her own, and the rocking of boats made her horribly sick.

"Monaka," Azumi breathed. The blonde moved a little stiffly in the robes she wore, unused to the fabrics. She entwined her fingers with Melissa's, smiling. Two steps behind her was the Lord Akiyama himself, as well as their children.

"Your husband finally persuaded me to give the trip a try," Azumi said softly. "It was awful, as I expected, but he was right about one thing. Seeing your face right now is worth every hour." The noblewoman giggled and squeezed Melissa's hands. "Happy birthday, Melissa, from all of us. Daigo, Shun, myself — we are all so fond of you."

Daigo nodded. "She is right, as I have learned she usually is," he added, chuckling. "It is not the way of my home to speak with such openness, but the sentiment is true." The King's expression grew a touch more tender as his gaze returned to Melissa. "This land and yours are blessed to have you, my Queen."

( as am I. )

unscripted asks - birthday edition! . always accepting

In plans made many, many moons ago, Melissa had agreed to lend the renegade prince her own strength and army to overthrow the infamously cruel ruler of the neighboring kingdom and who threatened Solaris with war, should it spread; in exchange, Daigo had offered what he had of most importance: himself, as the heir. Originally, they had briefly discussed the possibility of unifying the lands and perhaps settle all conflict for good.

Now, Melissa was able to see the error of their ways - at least, of her own. Koutetsujima had its own traditions, beliefs and valorous people who were not inferior to any of their neighboring nations. Much of what she had known then had been steeped in prejudice and bias, in no small amount thanks to the way Sohei had ruled over his subjects with little to no compassion.

But during her marriage with Daigo, they had divided their time between both kingdoms - as the reigning queen of one country but a consort of another, Melissa had come to make the journey by sea more frequently than she had ever dared to dream as a child, and started to consider the hallways made of stone as a second home. It was different from Solaris - as it would always be - but it was growing on her; the food, the colorful ink, the intricate layers of clothing, the warmth of the people liberated to live according to their own traditions... It was all just lovely to see.

For some reason, to know the locals genuinely appreciated her as a person felt special; Melissa had never wished to be seen as an oppressing power from abroad, but she had come to terms with whatever reputation was required of her. It was fortunate that now the queen was welcomed into their arms, even if she kept some things secret - the tattoo was for family only, and the traditional robes only worn at the islands.

To be out and surrounded by the islanders was met with an easy smile and a trademark greeting from the queen - one Melissa had mastered and which followed the native custom. The woman was careful to walk just side by side with Daigo and never ahead, movements slower and more graceful than those of a warrior - the fact she was always extra careful around the heavily decorated kimonos helped, of course.

But when Daigo steered them to a different place, Melissa frowned - but only until the golden locks of her best friend gave away the identity of the mysterious guests, the queen losing composure for a second to immediately hold the hands of the one person who had been more of a sister to her than her own blood. As fate would have it, Azumi and Melissa had been afforded a luxury that their children now enjoyed, but which was not extended to the younger twins also descended from Eleanor, even if the current monarch cared for them deeply.

"You are... Here. By the Goddess, Azumi. I had never once considered..." the woman trailed off, a radiant grin on her face also gracing Daigo when the king spoke of his own part in the arrangement. In response to his evident tenderness, a lot of affection was in Melissa's own honeyed eyes, and she mouthed a love declaration for him in his own native tongue before turning around to Azumi once more, admiring her looks in the local style - as well as the of the one of her husband and children.

"I know this was no small endeavor for you all, as well for precious Beau. But it really means the world to me that you have all endured the journey. And, for what is worth - you all look beautiful dressed like this; I have no doubt that Niran agrees with me," the queen smiled softly at Azumi's oldest child - not by birth, but ferociously protected by her and Shun, and who looked delighted to be there. A refugee who could feel at peace to return to his homeland was a treasured birthday offering, too.

Sighing deeply, the woman turned to Daigo, releasing one of the hands from her friend to take his in return - perhaps a touch too forward for the locals, but they had grown used to some concessions. There was a day for the queen, after all, when none had been afforded such honor before.

"And you, my lord husband, is surely the greatest gift I could ever ask for - either of my Goddess or your venerable deities."

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

[stingslikeabee]

available verses (public and private)

This is a masterlist of available verses for Melissa, public & private. This post will be updated as new verses are included and other verses are retired; please note that private verses are exclusive for the writing partners mentioned below while public are available for anyone (also available under the verses page and the google docs for mobile users).

Retired verses (public or private) are listed for archiving purposes and are not available.

Active general verses:

v: FFVII v: FFXII v: FFXV v: FFXVI v: the Evil Queen v: Yakuza v: Killer Queen v: House of Flowers v: Path to Nowhere v: the Continental v: the Soothsayer

Active exclusive verses:

- exclusive with @dojimakaichou: v: Yakuza ; dragon king AU v: Yakuza ; detective AU v: Yakuza ; Addams Family AU v: Yakuza ; medieval AU v: Yakuza ; vampire AU v: Yakuza ; merfolk AU v: Yakuza ; first lady of the Tojo AU v: Yakuza ; space federation AU v: Yakuza ; wild west AU v: Yakuza ; American dream AU v: Yakuza ; werewolf AU v: Yakuza ; serpent curse AU v: Yakuza ; demoness AU

- exclusive with @kansaisdragon: v: Yakuza ; bodyguard AU

- exclusive with @healthkits: v: Americana

- exclusive with @sierra6x: v: Blood Moon Rising

- exclusive with @strongfuck: v: Atlas and the Sun v: the pool of Mnemosyne

- exclusive with @withthedoubleg: v: the Eyes of the Dragon

- exclusive with @hisroyalmagnificence: v: wish you were mine

- exclusive with @finalslay: v: tale as old as time

- exclusive with @hyperionhero: v: daughter of Calliope

- exclusive with @saishuu-heiki: v: mother of calamity

- exclusive with @antielevator: v: there are more things in heaven and earth than we dreamed of

- exclusive with @sweariff: v: clap your hands if you believe

- exclusive with @lncarnon: v: a golden cat in a black night v: on the sidelines of history

- exclusive with @backwaterscum: v: mending these broken wings

- exclusive with @il-mostrc: v: there's no caging a bird of prey

- exclusive with @divinejudge: v: FFVII ; Siren AU

- exclusive with @bloodypuzzle: v: speak not of retribution but of a reawakening v: war makes fools of us all (but so does love) v: a thousand years of longing v: the cards do not lie v: once upon a time in the west

- exclusive with @macrodatum: v: no memories should be taken for granted v: nightmare alley

- exclusive with @poeticphoenix: v: arts of destruction

- exclusive with @evilsontherun: v: God works in mysterious ways

- exclusive with @untracked: v: if only we had looked back

Retired general verses:

v: Alice in Borderland v: Kingdoms of Gaia v: Jazz Age

Exclusive retired verses:

v: Once Upon a Time v: Sucker Punch v: FFVII ; secretary AU v: FFVII ; wolfsbane AU v: Nightingale

[kareofbears]

What's bonkin'? It's Thursday anon, again...Hope you've been hanging in there :) I wanted to ask about your writing, if that's ok! Are there any fic ideas/genres that you really want to write but for some reason or another don't feel like you'd be able to pull off? Or you feel like you would just have to do a ton of research in order to do so? I read an akiryu scifi a while ago & the whole time I was thinking about the crazy amount of research they would have needed 4 the worldbuilding!

howdy thursday anon <3 

not to respond like a white person, but i’ve been hanging for sure. i’m doing better actually!! mental health and productivity is on the rise!!!! how are you??? hope you're good and stuff 

OF COURSE YOU CAN???? I LOVE TALKING ABOUT WRITING AS YOU CAN TELL SINCE I KEEP REBLOGGING THOSE DANG WRITING ASKS LMFAOO i just have so much to say and my beta hates me hehe 

absolutely. yes. one thousand percent. all the time. i write as much as i do because i want to someday be confident enough in my skills to pull of something insane like an 80k au big bang with an artist!! that’s probably my goal as a fic writer? but ill get more specific 

i’m currently dreaming about writing a yakuza!p5 au, which is technically realistic? since its set in modern times and i’ve played enough of the game to understand the v i b e of what being in the yakuza entails. i mean, come on, akiryu as two people trying to survive in the vicious world of mafia with nothing but the clothes on their back and each other? fuck yeah

i’d love to write a royalty au of akira being the lowly but extremely skilled swordsman teaching the ruffian prince ryuji how to fight, and slowly and surely start falling in love 

and probably what i’m most tempted to write and what is the clearest in my head is a massive persona 5 star wars au!!! good god can you imagine? akira and ryuji as the head of the rebellion fighting against akechi who’s a sith lord, and sumire is a very strong and capable member of the rebellion who ends up fighting with akechi and they fall in love. and parallel to that is akira getting mind controlled to fight ryuji and AH the possibilities are endless and it tickles my brain to no end!!!! 

but yeah, as you can tell, all of those require extensive research into the field of  weapons/ye olden medieval stuff/space??? that i don’t think i’d be able to do it justice. but hey, i’m starting to feel better! i mean, that’s what the hanahaki fic is about (do you know what the hanahaki disease is???? i feel like no one remembers it anymore!!! awkward), so if this goes well maybe i’ll get the courage to start a university au, which can lead to like, an adult au, that can lead to more crazy weird aus

thanks for the ask Thursday anon!! hope you’re good :))

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

[stingslikeabee]

“She's magic, Yoshitaka. A single flower blooming in an endless desert.” ( maybe Her Majesty overhears something in war camp ?? 👀 )

fantasy magic & romance sentence quotes . accepting

Melissa was not prone to distrust and suspicions, but the words of her advisor rang true in her mind whenever one of her officers tarried in returning to the queen's tent. The notion of women in a war camp serving not as prostitutes or nurses but as fighters in their own capacity was clearly an issue for a considerable portion of their allies; the men from Koutetsujima did not hide their discomfort or disapproval sometimes, even if their rulers seemed to be getting along well.

The renegade prince was turning out to be quite the... Pleasant mystery. Melissa had not expected him to be as open-minded as he was showing himself to be, or to afford the queen the courtesy and warmth that she sensed brewing whenever they got together to discuss their next moves and to try and predict the king's reactions based on whatever news the scouts brought back. His concern with the civilians was also noted - the prince was unwilling to sacrifice anyone who was not at fault for the hostilities.

But just because Daigo was growing on the monarch, it didn't mean that her inner circle shared the same feelings. Ellara insisted in doing much around the camp so Melissa did not suffer undue exposure, but she knew of the temper of her own queensguard when confronted about not being 'suited' for that work. Sighing, the queen herself stepped outside to look for her commander, the fresh air of the dusk doing wonders to the brunette's agitated nerves.

If Melissa remembered correctly, Ellara had been called by Majima - but Majima was not one of the advisors who the queen saw frequently and the pathway to his tent was unknown. The Solarian queen only realized that when she was standing still in the middle of the camp, but a familiar voice drew her closer - it sounded like the deep baritone of the prince; perhaps Daigo could aid her.

But any intentions of making herself known were dismissed as soon as she realized that the prince was talking about her; well, it had to be - what other woman would Daigo be discussing during such troubled times? The notion that the rogue royal could see her in such a light was... Flattering, if Melissa was honest. Quite pleasant too, considering her own thoughts in relation to the man she had agreed to take as an ally and future husband if only for the good of their people.

The war needed to end and Sohei's cruelty had to be stopped - but the convenience aspect of their union seemed to be getting smaller with each day when the prince's stories and jagged grins made her laugh and when his dark eyes shone so beautifully under the right angle of the campfires built to keep them warm.

"Are you lost, your majesty?"

The voice from the commander of the Solarian army caught Melissa entirely off-guard; the monarch yelped with genuine surprise and realized that she had been slowly doubling over, inching closer towards to the voices coming from Daigo's tent but without the desire to be noticed. Ellara clearly understood that - the look on her face conveyed all kinds of concerns (and amusement), some of which would have been shared by Akiyama at the capital, no doubt.

"I was... Planning to take a walk," the queen lied horribly, and it showed in how Ellara's visage remained tainted by disbelief as she crossed her arms. Melissa stepped away quietly, hoping that neither Daigo nor Yoshitaka had realized her presence just outside, and then Melissa promptly took her officer elsewhere with a feeble attempt at steering the conversation to other matters.

The commander never brought it up again, but it had become harder to focus on strategy all of a sudden; despite the needs of many and the very honorable goal of that war, Melissa found herself thinking back to Daigo and his commentary more often than she'd care to admit.

[stingslikeabee]

Daigo was sat at the side of their son's bed, hunched over with his elbows on his thighs. The Prince Consort's hair was undone and fell down his back in uneven waves — but, in contrast, Osamu's locks were collected into a long, perfect braid that was tucked neatly over a shoulder. It contained the most intricate weave the Daigo knew ( and that his stiff fingers could muster ). A fitting symbol for any seasoned warrior to carry.

Daigo continued to stare at Osamu, narrowed eyes studying the rise and fall of his thin chest. He hardly moved until the sound of his wife's footsteps came to him. Blinking suddenly, Daigo stood for the Queen and moved to embrace her. Just for a moment.

"He was out in the garden chapel with Ellie, Melissa," the Prince Consort explained softly. Daigo doubted that their seventeen - year - old son, who was barely clinging to consciousness, could hear him from there, but he still preferred to speak quietly. "Evidently, he collapsed. She said he was reading with her and then . . . " Daigo kissed Melissa's brow. "Nothing is broken," he added, breathing the words out with a tinge of relief.

From the bed, Osamu stirred. His dark eyes were unfocused and cloudy — a sign of his very recent episode. Wincing, the prince stretched out a shaking hand. Blast his fickle vision ; it was so blurred that he could barely make out who else was in the room.

"Mother ??" he whispered.

Daigo leaned down to press a feather - light kiss to Melissa's lips. "You're all he has asked for," the Prince Consort murmured. As to be expected. He held no ill will over the close bond Osamu shared with her. Perhaps, in this instance, Melissa might be able to persuade him to swallow some of the warm broth sitting nearby. Daigo squeezed the Queen's waist comfortingly before he stepped away, releasing her on to their charge.

unscripted asks . always accepting

A queen was to worry about her people before any personal matters - Melissa had explained the heavy weight of a crown to her firstborn before, when he was reluctant to take over the throne in the neighboring country as his birthright. For a woman like her, it was almost second nature - no option had been given to Queen Eleanor's first daughter, and that Melissa had been afforded such a trustworthy friend in Okamura and then a good adviser in Akiyama was nothing but luck.

But having found the love of her life blossoming amidst war and pain was beyond any odds she had imagined possible; Melissa knew that the Goddess worked in mysterious ways and that not even those serving Her would be able to explain the twists and turns of her own fate. But clinging to such old mantras was complicated when it came to Osamu - their youngest; the prince who almost didn't make it and Melissa disliked even thinking about how that would have been.

The monarch refused to entertain the thoughts of a world without him - her little stallion, the most devoted scholar she had ever met and a man with such bravery that would put many seasoned fighters to shame. But those were precisely the things that occupied her mind during most of the meetings and royal duties of that day - the kingdom did not pause because Her Majesty's youngest was ill; life waited for no one.

So it was with immense relief that the queen finally released herself from the tasks of her station later that evening, and rushed to the royal couple's chambers with an agility to her step that not even the intricate layers of her dress could stop. The constant supply of news during her brief intermissions helped soothe nerves, as well as knowing that Daigo was with the boy.

The Prince Consort's greeting at the door relieved the woman of some additional, invisible weight; his touch had always been able to ground Melissa and push away too-tempting desperation, just as the woman hoped to be able to do for her soulmate in return. His updates received curt nods from the woman, signaling that she was absorbing the news before the feeble voice of their son reached the pair.

The effect was immediate - the queen squeezed the limbs that held her rooted to the spot, but the fleeting kiss was a welcome reminder. They were not alone; Osamu had been given the best care available and they would pull through, as they had always done. Smiling to her husband and gifting him with one last kiss before moving away, the sound of rustling fabric was all that the young prince needed to realize that his mother was back.

"I'm here, my love," the queen replied, softer than the tone used in audiences and even before their other children. It was of common knowledge that their bond was just different - particularly when the pregnancy had forced Melissa to be bedridden for so long and they had each other for support when times got darker and scary, her faith in the Goddess and her inner circle being the sole things that kept the Solarian ruler going.

"Mother..." Osamu repeated, but this time with a tired smile and moving to reach for the brunette, as exhausted as he felt. The woman met him halfway, releasing the boy of the task and adjusting herself as a human pillow for him, digits carding through dark hair and happy to see that the fever was gone. A bath would be good later - but they could just stay like that for a while.

"You need not worry, my little stallion. I shan't be moved from this bed until we both need to bathe," the queen observed with some amusement in her tone, glad to see that Osamu's consciousness was apparently doing better even if he seemingly struggled to remain awake. As hard as making conversation was, he chuckled - and a hand moved over the mattress, Melissa then motioning for Daigo to rejoin them.

"Will you sing when we go, mother?" the boy asked, getting a small laugh from the queen in return while Daigo eased himself back, their youngest in the middle of the couple and now connected to both parents. When the sickness was at its worst, there was hardly anything that comforted Osamu more than the presence of his mom... And dad. As much as he was attached to Melissa, his father's quiet devotion and admiration did wonders for his self-esteem.

"Always. Although it pains me to know we will need to undo your father's masterful work with the braids later. You look like the finest warrior our joined lands have ever produced," the brunette raised her head then, linking honeyed gazes with Daigo's dark ones, smiling at him warmly, "If you both are willing to teach me, I can try braiding it back - maybe I can practice on your father first. He looks ready for the experiment, does he not?"

Osamu's eyes shifted to the other side, and he realized that Daigo's usual braids were gone - the prince consort looked different like that, and it made their son smile even wider, perhaps because of the idea of Melissa attempting to recreate the intricate patterns of Koutetsujima; she knew but the basics, only the types young girls did as children in Solaris, "You do, father. But you need not worry," the younger boy said, suddenly solemn despite his state, "I will help if mother fumbles her attempt."

Melissa laughed at Osamu's words; the sweet jab was good news. If their little one was feeling well enough to make jokes, the they would pull through this. They always had, after all... And they would again.

[stingslikeabee]

Though the Kingdoms had held off planning a formal wedding for Melissa and Daigo out of respect for the post - war environment, the Solarian Queen's court ( influenced by a particular blonde ) still insisted on having a small party to celebrate their beloved monarch's birthday. The celebration was symbolic itself : a handful of representatives from each of the three lands were present, many of whom were now good friends due the prior demands of a year - long conflict.

In the midst of the gathering, however, Daigo stepped close to his bride - to - be. He placed a hand on her waist affectionately. Sensing the Prince was asking for a moment alone with his fiancée, Okamura shooed the two toward the gardens with the promise that she and her husband would see to the guests for a little while. She winked teasingly at her friend as Daigo led Melissa, hand clasped in her's, into the Queen's beautiful greenery.

The gardens of the Solarian palace were beautiful to behold, even in the soft light of the evening. They were filled with aromatic flowers, all carefully cultivated and tended to by a team of official gardeners, to suit the various established hives of bees within its depths that were much - adored by the young Queen. Daigo guided them to a secluded spot just off the main path. There was a fairly comfortable bench in this little nook ; they both liked to escape here when the pressures of the palace were too constricting. Daigo offered his hand to help Melissa sit first before joining her.

"Love, I ― " the Prince smiled. When they were alone, his features were much gentler. He didn't have to keep up the airs that used to give him a safety net in another life. "Melissa. I wanted to get you something special for your birthday, especially since I couldn't do much in camp last year. It occurred to me that . . . I've never asked you to marry me properly. By the traditions of Koutetsujima, I should say. I want to correct that."

He produced an object wrapped in fine cloth from his pockets and uncovered it. Inside was a beautiful wrist cuff composed mainly from gleaming Koutetsujima iron. It was twisted into a mock flower, of which the bloom was a shining black stone, whose stem and roots flowed up the wrist in enchanting coils. Daigo held it gingerly in his palms. Without further fanfare, he sank to his knees before her ― and this show of loyalty to a woman was not a part of his home, but it was important to him personally.

"In Koutetsujima, women wear jewelry like this once they're wed ; sort of like . . . the way Akarians use rings now." Daigo turned over Melissa's palm and set the elaborate piece into it tenderly. "The stone is significant. Black for my colors, of course, and ― " The Prince drew his thumb over the polished onyx sweetly. "My mother used to have a mirror she could fit in her hand that she treasured. She said it came from her grandmother. I was able to save it from her things after she passed. The glass broke over the years, unfortunately, but the stone backing was still good." Daigo tapped the ink - colored center reverentially and withdrew his touch. "I would like to think she has blessed this union for us."

After taking a moment to compose himself, the renegade Prince looked up at his love. Fresh tears glittered in his dark eyes. "If I may ask the Queen of Solaris, on this ― the most treasured day of the year ― would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

unscripted asks - birthday edition! . always accepting

Melissa had always enjoyed her birthday - since her very early years as the single heir to throne, then as first in line for succession after Queen Eleanor, the festivities prepared in her honor had always been quite dazzling for a young woman who liked to be at the center of the events. Even when studying abroad and at the time she befriended Okamura, there was still a considerable amount of pomp and fanfarre to the date given her status as a ward of the local crown.

Now, returned to her homeland and the reigning queen, the parties had always been generous and prepared to offer something to every Solarian - but unfortunately, the luxury of the previous years had been suspended in face of the war waged not long ago across their borders. Hopefully only a temporary measure, just as they had declared in relation to the upcoming royal wedding - but a royal decree would never be enough to stop the queen’s right hand and best friend.

Thus the small, rather private and intimate gathering was orchestrated and Melissa confessed herself powerless to resist - the brunette allowed her friend to do as she pleased and took the backseat for the day, occupying herself with selecting one of the dresses to go with the jewelry and to take a moment to write to her sisters; the absence of Rose and Heather would be the only thing the monarch resented on that day, but she knew the twins would grow to be formidable princesses in their own right (or maybe even successors to the Solarian throne, should Melissa failed to produce an heir).

And yet, that sounded like more than a matter of time than anything else - although not ceremonially wedded, the treaty between both countries had been signed and both royals had ignored protocol in favor of real affection and warmth still in the battlefield. The once disgraced Prince who had been driven from his home was now restored to his former glory - even if it was one he did not care for but for the ability it gave him to enact change. The queen was honestly looking forward to be with him for as long as the Goddess allowed them, as well as the children She blessed them with.

The fact that Melissa was enamored with the hero of Koutetsujima was evident in how easily he convinced her to walk towards the gardens, separating the queen from her hive for a moment. The brunette was happy to walk between the blooms and all the carefully maintained greenery with the Prince, and took the seat offered with a sweet smile that grew even wider after bearing witness to his own curved lips. The way that Daigo transformed once they were alone was so very heartwarming - as if there was a precious side of him that got unlocked in the woman’s presence alone and which made him so viscerally human.

That vulnerable part of the man feared by so many evoked the protector warrior in her - for him, Melissa would don heavy armor and pick up her sword to battle anyone who threatened to wipe such a lovely look of happiness off his face. By the Goddess - he deserved it. Even if it was her birthday, the monarch wished for nothing but to see his dark eyes burning with such hopeful light and lips pressed in gentle grins, calloused hands holding her own digits. But as he started to talk, it was the Solarian’s turn to grow surprised and moved - the image of him sinking to his knees evoked their first meeting, where he offered his services to her as the kingdom’s blood knight if it meant the chance to take his father down.

Now, Daigo did it again - but out of love and offering his heart to Melissa. As the Prince spoke about his home’s traditions and the history surrounding the makings of the exquisite piece of jewelry he had in hand, honey-colored eyes grew gentle and heavy with emotion. She had never seen anything like it before - the traditions of his own people were like secrets beyond the borders, but that he wished to still honor everything in a way that paid tribute to his late mother was something she couldn’t take lightly. What Melissa knew about her neighbors was that one’s female progenitor did not hold the same importance as in her country - that Yayoi was such a dear figure to Daigo meant so much to his future wife.

“Yes,” Melissa said without a moment of hesitation - perhaps too short a word for his precious elaboration on the tale, but it was easy to see that the queen was overcome with feelings of her own. Instead of staying on the bench where Daigo had so elegantly seated her before, the woman dropped to the ground to be on the same level as he was, uncaring for the dirty or the possibility of soiling the dress. One of the brunette’s hands was wrapped over his, creating a secondary layer of protection over the jewelry; the other went to his face, thumb caressing his features lovingly before wiping away the tears pooling around his lashes even if they were joyful ones.

“A queen’s duty is to her people, but I swear this, my love, with the Goddess as our witness - I have never loved anyone as fiercely as I do now. I will do my best to make Yayoi proud of her legacy and honor her as you do,” the queen replied, pulling him for a kiss on the lips that was sweet and adoring, a far cry from the desperate and heated ones they had shared after the battle was done, or even behind closed doors (much to the desperation of certain advisers).

“I will wear your gift every day, as a visible reminder of this promise we make one another. It is with no small amount of pleasure and pride I take the rightful heir to the Koutetsujima throne, His Majesty Daigo Dojima, to be my lawful husband.” A short giggle followed, announcing a separation that lasted only long enough for the once renegaded prince to adequately clasp the object on her arm - Melissa allowed herself a moment to see how the dying light on the horizon was reflected on the polished stone, the other hand moving to trace its shape softly and with a reverential edge to her gestures.

“The only thing I’m not certain about is whether this is the most treasured day of the year - what about the day we originally met? Or our first time as husband and wife, regardless of the absence of any papers?” Melissa teased him with a less innocent smile, and inclined herself forward in order to have her forehead rest against his in an intimate gesture, incapable of leaving the floor, Daigo’s close proximity or even return to the ballroom. For a precious, still moment, everything she needed was still there.

“Or perhaps we have not yet had the most important days of our lives - our wedding celebration, the day we reopen your ancient home after repairing it, the birth of our children... We’ll be so happy together, Daigo,” Melissa murmured with confidence, knowing in her heart that nothing else could be the truth, “Yayoi and Eleanor would not allow us to be anything but fulfilled.” 

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

“Please, let him be soft. I know you made him with gunmetal bones and wolf’s teeth. I know you made him to be a warrior a soldier a hero. But even gunmetal can warp and even wolf’s teeth can dull and I do not want to see him break the way old and worn and overused things do. I do not want to see him go up in flames the way all heroes end up martyrs. I know that you will tell me that the world needs him. The world needs his heart and his faith and his courage and his strength and his bones and his teeth and his blood and his voice and his– The world needs anything he will give them. Damn the world, and damn you too. Damn anyone that ever asked anything of him, damn anyone that ever took anything from him, damn anyone that ever prayed to his name. You know that he will give them everything until there is nothing left of him but the imprint of dust where his feet once trod. You know that he will bear the world like Atlas until his shoulders collapse and his knees buckle and he is crushed by all he used to carry. Dear God, you have already made an Atlas. You have already made an Achilles and an Icarus and a Hercules. You have already made so many heroes, and you can make another again. You can have your pick of heroes. So please, I beg you– he is all that I have, and you have so many heroes and the world has so many more. Let him be soft, and let him be mine.”

— Please, let him be happy ( j.p. )

[stingslikeabee]

Okamura turned excitedly to face the door to the Queen's rooms as Melissa exited. She smiled broadly, hands reaching for her friend's arm. There was a wholly mischievous look to her ― from the particular glimmer in her eye to the curve of her smile ( both of which her beloved Shun had longed ago learned to love and fear ). Okamura giggled, drawing Melissa down the hall with her.

"I know this is the day after your birthday, monaka, but now it's time for my gift to you," the blonde purred quietly, fingers tightening around Melissa's sleeve affectionately. "Your schedule is entirely empty all of the sudden, and our husbands have agreed to take care of the babies in our stead. ― mm, with a guiding hand from an old lion and the twins, of course." Okamura chuckled. Her youngest, Isa, was nearly two ; precious little Hikari, the latest addition to the families' broods, was four months old.

The Lady guided her Queen outside one of the palace's side entrances and down into the lawn. She shooed away any servants or aides that came to assist the pair until they were finally alone. In the shade provided by a small orchard was arranged a covering of blankets and other accessories. Okamura spun around to the front of Melissa to face her, hands entwined with the monarch's, as she walked them toward the scene she established this morning.

"Do you remember, monaka? When my father's lessons would get so dull for too many days in a row that I would persuade you to run away with me? With strawberry tarts and and our fairy tale books . . . we stayed out for hours."

Okamura invited Melissa to sit with her and gestured to the things she brought. The unmistakable, fruity smell betrayed the aforementioned sweets ( made earlier by the noblewoman herself ). There was fresh, cooled cream for the pastries ; bottles of amber - colored tea ; and a container of honey from the Queen's own bees. Next to the confections arranged in their ribbon - tied tins was an assortment of old letters and tomes : a collection of papers and memories from when they were young girls, gossiping into the pages of faded journals to one another.

"This is for you, monaka," Okamura explained, smoothing her skirts down. "You are a remarkable woman, Melissa, but you need a break. Consider this your gift : I've scared all of the palace away. The only people allowed to interrupt are our spouses, should your darling princess grow hungry. Relax, monaka ― and happy birthday."

unscripted asks - birthday edition! . always accepting

One of the palace’s many servants was accompanying the queen when she saw Okamura coming from across the hall - and that look was all it took for the monarch to raise an eyebrow with an expectant expression, giving the servant the pile of letters the brunette had been sorting while they walked and ordering the girl to go away to carry on with her duties. As soon as the blonde sequestered her arm and mentioned a birthday surprise, Melissa broke into a melodic, pleased laugh.

But of course she had - it wasn’t as if she believed her best friend to have forgotten and the queen had received many loving kisses and embraces during the intimate festivities that her right-hand had organized the day before. But in a way, Melissa had just assumed that the private gathering had been Okamura’s own way to show appreciation for the monarch, to give her time to celebrate and relax without a care in the world.

It turned out she was wrong - Okamura was just bidding her time to make something special and more extravagant, what wasn’t something unexpected of the Akarian lady. At the blonde’s declarations of how everything was taken care of for the day, the monarch did chuckle again, leaning closer into the steering arm with fondness. “Oh my, behaving children and husbands for an entire day! I wonder how many miracles the Goddess can pull off in a single day,” Melissa added with humor, knowing very well that her friend was working as the avatar of the main Solarian deity on that morning.

The royal followed the other woman with a curious air to her expression, but no fear - whatever Okamura had prepared, she knew it would be quite perfect. There was hardly anyone else she trusted nearly as much as she did the blonde by her side - her husband, sisters and children, but Okamura really was closer than a sister. A kindred soul, and Melissa would have accompanied her willingly anywhere, even if she needed to be deprived of sight or movement in the benefit of the surprise.

And just as she suspected - Okamura had prepared the greatest gift of them all. What was more precious to the ruler of a kingdom if not time? When one devoted all waking hours to others, it was easy to forget to care for the personal aspect. In this sense, Melissa was fortunate to have Daigo and a trusted inner circle, but no one could read her as well as the blonde hurricane who would undoubtedly have scared the entire royal residence into submission - frankly speaking, Okamura’s orders as head of the household was even more important than the queen’s own when it came to domestic aspects of the palace.

“You are most precious friend anyone could ever hope to have, mon coeur,” the royal declared, squeezing the hands of the other woman before taking her invitation to sit down over the blankets, only letting go of Okamura’s digits to pull her into a hug and then press a kiss to her forehead, a display of her affection for the Akarian noblewoman. Smiling at the younger female next, Melissa greedily reached for the old journals documenting their conversations of ages ago, and yet which felt like a day before from the moment she opened the faded, worn pages.

“Oh, I can’t believe you kept them all - we were terrible, Azumi!” she laughed next, finding the perfect echo in the way Okamura smiled mischievously at her. It was by no mistake they had grown to be such fast friends - otherwise isolated from society due to their position and expectations of the roles to be performed, it had been difficult to form genuine bonds with other girls of their age - and the vivid gossip documented there clearly showed it all.

“The baker’s boy! I remember him,” Melissa murmured, welcoming the silent invitation to lay over the blankets and have her head rest over Okamura’s lap. As a child, if left unchecked, the blond would frequently braid the queen’s hair, too - on that day, she settled for caressing and playing with the strands softly, but her blue eyes remained attentive on the childish scribbles that the monarch kept showing her, reviving their commentary from decades past. 

“We so believed him to be in love with you at the time - poor Shun would buy every single one of the treats in hopes they wouldn’t have enough to bring over to the castle later and yet he was only trying to win the favor of that lovely kitchen servant,” Melissa laughter was free, entirely amused - the type she reserved for closed quarters only and which was not befitting for a ruler, but for a girl with her best friend during an afternoon out? That was then immediately acceptable.

It had been the greatest gift ever - one not for the Queen of Solaris, but for Melissa; a lovely reminder that one did not need to abandon their truest selves even in face of duty as long as their loyal companions walked the same path.

[stingslikeabee]

Yayoi had never expected to be blessed with the title of grandmother in her life. Though it was hers by blood after the birth of Daigo's first child ― to be gifted it by family was something much more special. The ex - royal sat tentatively, hands wound together in her lap, as she looked around her son's sitting room. This was not the one they normally entertained guests in ; rather, Melissa said this was a space the children used to play in. Yayoi smiled at the handful of carved toys and soft dolls that were spread throughout it.

Daigo's absence was missed, but he was due to inspect the military today. It was an important part of his role that couldn't be moved. As he left, he encouraged his mother to finally meet her grandchildren with the promise that he would return as soon as he was able. Yayoi was left alone with Melissa, her charming daughter - in - law, and kindly escorted here.

Yayoi hastily stood at the opening of the door out of habit. Her hand flew over her mouth at the sight of her son's family. A little boy, nearly three and a half, with striking eyes that held onto his mother's skirts. In Melissa's arms was a lovely baby girl, over one year old now, who had the most wonderful smile.

"Oh, Melissa, they're perfect," Yayoi breathed. She gathered her dress in her fingers and resumed sitting to avoid spooking anyone. The boy approached step by step, glancing at his mother for reassurance. Yayoi's heart melted at the evident bond between the pair. It reminded her of the precious moments she once shared with Daigo at that age.

"You are your father's replica," the former royal cooed affectionately, cupping Kazuya's chin. "Sweet Kazuya, you look exactly like he did."

Yayoi turned then to accept the infant from Melissa. She held her with clear care against the crook of an arm. Her free hand stroked the babe's cheek, which caused Hikari to coo loudly. After a moment, the grandmother wiped away a stray tear. Yayoi reached for Melissa's grasp and squeezed it affectionately, unable to help the unshed drops glittering over her eyes ( the same that Daigo and Kazuya shared ).

"I do apologize for getting overwhelmed," she said softly. "It's that ― I always wanted a girl of my own. A little sister for Daigo. Unfortunately, I was never able to meet any of my daughters. Seeing yours ― and with Kazuya having his father's appearance . . . " Yayoi inhaled deeply. She brought their conjoined fingers up to the swell of Melissa's expectant belly. "I am so very happy for you, Melissa, and your three darling children. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives."

unscripted asks . always accepting

The visit to Koutetsujima was a special one - it was true that Daigo had regular duties as king of the country to attend to, but the same wasn’t applicable for Melissa; while she was queen consort, the woman also tactfully left most of the public appearances for her husband whenever they were at his homeland, at least for now. Instead, the brunette was happy to keep Yayoi some company, as well as take the time to introduce her to the grandchildren she had never seen.

The first meeting between the Dojima mother and son had been private - and Melissa had not wanted to disrupt their reconnection after so many long years of absence and suffering, even if it was to bring their offspring over. The fact that Yayoi was alive was a miracle - a blessing from the Goddess, in the queen’s opinion. The dream the Solarian monarch had been bestowed with clearly showed that - a promise of an encounter; some sort of sign from the heavens that there was even greater surprises to be found and enjoyed in the royal couple’s life together.

Now, on the morrow of such a significant reunion, Melissa had soothed her husband by saying she would be with Yayoi the entire time - as well as their children. It was important for Kazuya and Hikari to be exposed to both countries, to grow fond of the nations they would rule over one day - peacefully and in collaboration for eternity, if the woman’s wishes were fulfilled.

The reigning monarch smiled at the interactions between grandmother and grandchildren - it was a pity that Eleanor had passed away before they had been even conceived; she sometimes missed her own mother dearly, but having Yayoi around would surely be a gift to the kids. Melissa had only the gentlest expression before her in-law’s clear emotion - the royal imagined how intense this was being to her; that she entertained the idea of being refused contact (and the chance to see her own relatives grow) was preposterous. The former queen of Koutetsujima had been a warrior, a figure to be celebrated - Melissa would never dare to keep her at arm’s length from those who carried her own blood.

“Please, don’t ever apologize around us. We are so impossibly happy to have you returned to family, my lady. I have rarely seen Daigo more moved than he was upon hearing the news - perhaps only the end of the war could compare; or the day of our marriage and the occasion of their arrival,” Melissa added, nodding towards her children. Kazuya was still shy around his grandmother, but evidently growing confident - she looked familiar, after all; the fact that his mother was around surely helped.

Meanwhile, Hikari’s smiling face was completely at ease in the arms of Yayoi, showcasing just how promising she would one day be as queen and admired by everyone (or so they all hoped). “We have been naming our children following the custom of both kingdoms and changing the order as they are born - hopefully this will give them all a connection to the two lands they are a part of,” the royal explained, moving to sit down beside Yayoi but not reclaiming her daughter back - Hikari seemed happy to be held, so Melissa motioned for Kazuya to return - and the boy gladly walked over to his mom, standing between her legs and delighted to remain in close contact with her, enveloped by the fabric of the skirts covering the queen’s legs.

“I actually wanted to speak to you on this matter, my lady - Daigo and I have discussed this and we had thought about it before news about your whereabouts were delivered, but I’d love to have your blessing,” Melissa said with a small smile, hands going to Kazuya’s and intertwining their fingers while she talked, yet another show of their bond - despite being Daigo’s perfect copy in terms of appearance, the young prince was obviously attached to his mother and the queen’s silent companion mostly anywhere when the monarch was not sequestered by palace matters.

“Ever since I had that dream with you... I have been sure that I am expecting another girl for our family. Daigo and I... We would love to name her after you, honoring the Koutetsujima side of their heritage,” Melissa murmured with fondness, and sincerely hoping Yayoi would appreciate the tribute, “After Kazuya Bernard and Amalia Hikari... We have thought about Yayoi Lucille. I feel she will be a strong, lovely lady - blessed by our Goddess and protected by your Glass Snake, no doubt. Would you grant us the honor of approving our naming choice, my lady?”

Yayoi was still holding Hikari, but she didn’t need to say it - the tear that rolled from her eye and the way she moved closer to the queen while allowing herself to be embraced by her son’s wife was enough. After so many years, there were tears freely flowing in the royal chambers of the Koutetsujima palace - but only of joy and hope; and if it depended on both Melissa and Daigo, that would be valid for the next decades (or centuries) to come.

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

night and day by virginia woolf // from the collected Works; "dracula” by bram stoker // woman hollering creek and other stories by sandra cisneros // art by holly warburton // this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar // lighthousekeeping by jeanette winterson // everything everywhere all at once (2022) // quote by margaret atwood

[stingslikeabee]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( for medieval AU <3 )

for each “⭐️” I get, I’ll write a headcanon about our muses . accepting

1.

Naming princesses and princes after previous rulers is not unheard of in Solaris, but the reason for Melissa and Daigo’s third child to be named ‘Yayoi’ has an even deeper meaning than a simple tribute to his mother. Shortly after discovering herself pregnant again, the queen had a most intriguing dream - a particularly clear one, where she met and had extensive conversation with a woman she did not know, but who looked so very familiar.

Upon waking up the next morning and looking into her husband’s eyes, Melissa realized why she was so shaken by the dream: it felt like she had met her mother in law, despite the fact Yayoi had died many years before her son even travelled to Solaris. Not one to disregard motherly instincts and blessings, she immediately talked about it to Daigo - and suggested to name their next girl after his mother (at that point - the queen was sure she was expecting a girl and she was not incorrect).

2. 

Melissa is rather fascinated by the ink on Daigo’s back, as well as the one that graces the skin of most of the men of his inner circle. Although she knows it is derived from a long tradition from Koutetsujima and which failed to be continued after their civil war in Akari, the commitment and devotion that the art symbolizes touches her profoundly.

As such, Melissa decided to have something inked on her - the first monarch of Solaris to ever do it, but strictly for personal reasons. The design she selected was the one of a steel rose, in a homage to her husband’s homeland mining tradition, and closely following the shape of the piece of jewelry he gifted her when asking for the queen’s hand in marriage. The ink has a few bees, as if pollinating the bloom, which further highlights the bond between the two countries. Melissa has added a bee for every child of theirs that was born after the original tattoo was done.

Melissa’s tattoo is located at the lower end of her back, traditionally the place where Daigo’s hand rests around her when they are walking around in public.

3.

After the war, much was debated over how the restoration of Koutetsujima’s seat of power should be done, given the grim fate of the place and how profoundly traumatic it could be to Daigo. Despite the fact that, as per the original agreement, the Prince had relinquished his claim to the throne, Melissa did not make any decisions in relation to his ancient home - she consulted her husband during the entire process, and fully supported all his feelings and opinions on the matter.

Eventually, the castle was fully revamped and rebuilt - except for the throne room where Sohei met his end, which was merely kept as a memorial in order to prevent further cruelty from ever being enacted again. That is the one room that the queen makes a point of being with Daigo whenever they travel across the border - and most of the inner circles of both royals have realized that. 

Either as a silent presence or by fully holding his hand, Melissa does not leave her beloved by himself in such a haunted chamber - she didn’t let him face his fate alone during the war and she is not inclined to start now. Whatever horrible things transpired there, she was a part of it too - and she doesn’t Daigo to think he’s alone when it comes to bearing heavy burdens.

[stingslikeabee]

Okamura stood before the great doors among a knot of well - wishers and guards. She awaited the same thing many did : the return of their beloved queen, who was encased in the armored procession cresting the hill. For a moment, her breath caught her in her throat ; the glint of metal as it grew closer promised the return of her dearest friend. Beside her, Beau grumbled, sensing her excitement.

In Okamura's arms was little Made, who hadn't slept well the night prior. The lady of the house was always first in line to take her children around with her on any day, but she was especially protective of them when they were clearly unwell. She had never been comfortable leaving them with nurses for more than one hour or two, and, somehow, she and her husband had managed thus far. Okamura turned slightly to check on Emma, clasped to her father's breast. A hand rested briefly on his bent arm, and she leaned forward to kiss Akiyama gently.

In that time, the military procession stopped. They were near enough to warrant dismounting, and that was Okamura's cue. Without warning, the blonde pathed between their guards and into the open stretch of road. She moved with care but determination, free hand lifting her luxurious coral - colored skirts, as she escaped the confines of decorum in order to greet her friend. Fuck the demands of etiquette - Okamura had missed her. Soldiers moved out of her way without hesitation, respectful of the lady's intensity and feline companion.

Melissa had scarcely placed her feet flat on the ground when Okamura reached her. The blonde, mindful of her daughter, embraced her Queen with one arm. Still, the strength of that hold was fearsome. Okamura drew a shaky breath ; when they parted merely enough to study one another, her emerald eyes were glistening.

"I've missed you, monaka," Okamura murmured, the fond nickname rolling past her tongue. "Here, let me look at you." A soft hand tilted the face of the slightly shorter woman lovingly. It was amazing how much they had both aged in the year they were away from one another. The motherly nature of the gesture was hard not to see ; surprisingly, such nurturing behavior suited the lady well. She had grown into it.

"We have so much to talk about," Okamura continued. Her sharp stare glanced over at Daigo, who winced at the acknowledgment, and down to the infant nestled to her torso. It was then she noticed Made holding the end of a lock of Melissa's chestnut hair in her small fist. Okamura removed the newfound toy with a smile, fingertips stroking the baby's waving arm to soothe her.

"It's good to have you home," the lady said, voice laced with a tenderness few would ever hear. "I was so worried for you, Melissa. I'm . . . I have gratitude beyond words that you're safe."

unscripted asks . always accepting

There had been moments when Melissa thought the sights of her beloved homeland were but a fleeting dream; although they hadn’t travelled that much in terms of objective distance, the harsh reality of the neighboring kingdom and the frankly inhumane conditions they found were heart-wrenching. Families torn apart by cruel rule and the encroaching war alike, widespread famine where once grains and pastures had been rather abundant, children scared of a helping hand belonging to a stranger fearing that it might strike them across the face first.

The queen had been sheltered from that sort of suffering from much of her life - the wounds sustained in battle were nothing compared to the desperation of these they liberated and rescued from dark dungeons. With each keep they controlled, each fortress taken - the resolve in Daigo’s eyes grew more intense, the rage almost coming alive whenever he swung his blade. The monarch couldn’t imagine how it felt - to grow up in such desolate lands, to live in constant fear of one’s parent and ruler.

By the time they had finally made it to the seat of the power of the reigning Dojima, the queen was no longer a neutral party ensuring the fulfillment of an agreement; she was ardently hoping for that nightmare to be ended and for Daigo to have some peace. It was only when it was truly over, with the blood of Sohei’s lifeless body staining the stone floors of the throne room and his last remaining officers held captive, that the queen breathed a sigh of relief. 

The war was over - and they had won.

It meant returning home - but now, Melissa realized, her ‘home’ also extended across the borders and to the kingdom they had just liberated. As she joined hands with Daigo and then kissed the prince on the lips in lieu of any better words to describe their feelings, they knew that there was still much to be done. Their marriage had been orchestrated out of convenience, as a means to safeguard the realm and prevent another future conflict - but it wasn’t really the driving force anymore. Anyone living with them and sharing their routine in the camp had seen the signs - but they needed to return to the capital first to organize everything.

Melissa didn’t need to, but she would have begged Daigo to come home with her - the woman needed him, officially given his knowledge of the people they were to rule over; but deep down, it was for more personal, sentimental reasons. At long last - they could entertain plans that did not revolve around the risks of either of them being killed. Her ‘home’ would not be complete if he wasn’t there, as much as some members of the monarch’s entourage still doubted the disgraced prince.

It mattered not - Melissa knew this was all but temporary; Daigo would win them over soon.

Perhaps Beau would be among the last; the way the lion reacted to his presence made Melissa smile while she dismounted, only to be immediately locked into the strongest embrace of her best friend and most loyal supporter; Okamura was such a welcome sight for sore eyes: her perfume, the colors of her dress, and the... Child in her arms?

When they pulled apart just enough to gaze at each other as if they hadn’t met in centuries, Melissa couldn’t help the soft chuckle that escaped her lips. She was in desperate need of a bath, some more comfortable clothes than plate armor, the wound on her leg still stinging uncomfortably when she moved her limb in a certain way, but all of that disappeared at the presence of her companion of a lifetime. Eyes straying to the girl and then briefly to the background, where Akiyama was (with an identical girl in his arms), the brunette understood it all.

“I can see things have been eventful while I was away,” the monarch replied with a humorous tone, but not lacking the sweetness of the relief that Okamura expressed. The queen gently introduced herself to the girl in her friend’s arms, cooing softly at the baby and and offering a free digit for her to play with instead a strand of chestnut hair, the other hand finding the fluffy, soft mane of Beau who was bunting his head against her leg playfully, demanding the pets he had been denied for months.

“I am so relieved to be back, Azumi. And to see you so full of life, too,” Melissa mentioned canting her head to look at the blonde’s face more closely, smiling again at her, “I will not pretend that the war has been a minor hindrance... The things we saw there,” she shook her head then, almost as if warding her thoughts against the memories for a moment; they deserved a break. “But it was necessary and the worst is now behind us. I shan’t leave you or your beautiful girls anytime soon, I promise you this. Except for a bath,” the royal observed, and then her focus was stolen by a guard - he sounded apologetic, but unfortunately there was much to be done and Melissa really should retire to her chambers and allow the servants to start cleaning everything.

It took the poor man’s warning for the queen to remember they were in the middle of the inner courtyard, a cacophony of voices, animals and vehicles mixing together. Gently releasing herself from both Beau and the baby’s soft grasp, Melissa than brought her hands to clasp them around Okamura’s free one, squeezing her digits tenderly. “Come with me upstairs? You need not leave while I wash if you so wish. Just give me a moment,” the queen said while moving indoors, waving to a smiling Akiyama as she walked, pausing right before the prince (now arguably king in his own right) and ignoring the bystanders for a second - few words were exchanged before Melissa kissed Daigo on the lips, the gesture visibly stunning and silencing those around.

The other royal, however, had a jagged smile on his features that seemed to suggest him to be unsurprised by the bold actions of his fellow wartime ally and future wife.

By the time the queen rejoined her head of staff and second-in-command, she laughed at Okamura’s knowing look and slightly victorious smile. Steering her inside with caution and taking the side not occupied by the beautiful baby on her arm, the brunette shook her head as if admitting defeat. “We do have much to discuss, Azumi - you have no idea how much I missed your counsel at camp... And I don’t mean in relation to the war campaign.”

[stingslikeabee]

Daigo cleaned the wound first with a cloth soaked in warm water. He held her leg firmly as he did so, keeping her foot planted against his thighs. A stray sword had found the opening in Melissa's armor that allowed her knee to move freely when they fought for the Iron Keep ( one of his father's last forts ) earlier. Daigo remembered dismounting his infamous black war horse after the battle with a sense of dread at the sight of his fellow royal limping, thankfully supported by Mine. Majima was off handling the prisoners with Saejima, which left Daigo free to insist he tend to Melissa's injury. They had found enough spies in the camp already. Who knew what was lurking among the medical staff? At the risk of Melissa's vulnerability being exploited, Daigo had whisked her away to his private tent to patch her up himself.

She sat across from him now in a dirty tunic, a blanket over her lap to preserve her modesty given that he needed her trousers off to best approach the wicked gash. Daigo worked diligently, coarse fingers surprisingly gentle when it came to the delicate work of stitching the back of her knee and calf. It never occurred to him that people would talk if they saw how informally ( and frankly comfortably ) they were behaving with one another. Social etiquette, the sort he despised but knew by heart, had no place on a battlefield as far as he was concerned.

"Here," Daigo said. He wiped the seeping line carefully after he was finished and reached for a small container sitting among his supplies. Daigo offered it to her first, allowing her to confirm that the balm inside was herb - based, before he took a generous amount. The pale material was spread over thick bandages. "It does wonders for the pain ; I've found it helps me sleep. If it works the same for you, I can redress this tomorrow evening with a fresh wrap." Daigo extended her leg mindfully and used the bandages to weave a proper protective cast for her. Once he was finished, the disgraced prince set everything to the side.

His hair was still muddy, and there was dried blood stained onto his skin and clothing. All evidence indicated that he hadn't stopped to take care of himself after the battle. His first thought, as always of late, was her.

"I know it's futile for me to say it," Daigo began, grinning with his genuine and almost harsh smile that so few got to see, "but you shouldn't ride independently for a few days. There are carts for the wounded ; I can attach one to Kokutan. Or, if you insist on being stubborn, I can tie your stallion off to her instead. Either way, you shouldn't be trying to control a horse by yourself with this." He laughed, resting back on his arms while he gave her time to adjust to the wrap. "Please humor my suggestions, at least, Melissa. Your lady threatened to cut off of my manhood and feed it to her pet if you came home without four limbs. I would very much prefer to avoid that."

unscripted asks . always accepting

It had been an unfortunate injury - if not for that unforeseen incident, they could have had more time to organize everything and settle down at their camp under more optimal conditions. But one couldn’t be greedy - Melissa knew they had made great progress on that day, and seizing control of the Iron Keep alone was testament to that. By Mine’s estimates, the garrison there could have been significantly bigger given the fact they were now closer to the capital - but they were successful in conquering the fort into a single day of work.

Still - Daigo’s compatriots were known for their ferocity and no small amount of tricks and techniques; if there was a place in the entire realm where her training would be put to test, that location surely would be among his homeland. To her credit, Melissa seemed to withstand the discomfort of the injury with dignity - no screaming or whimpering, but the knuckles of the digits holding to her wooden chair were turning white fast, the tips of her fingers going numb from the pressure applied. Strangely enough, the queen was not acting in such fashion out of some idea that being vulnerable before the prince was a problem - but for her own men.

It wouldn’t be good for morale if her anguished voice roused the tired men from their sleep or brought doubt over their next endeavors; she needed to bear it like a true leader would. In truth, it wasn’t even the worst injury she had ever sustained: during training, when much younger, she had broken a couple of limbs and suffered deeper stab wounds - but then Melissa had always been within palace grounds, with the healers and medics at her prompt disposal and plenty of rest as required.

On that evening - they were at a camp, outside the Iron Keep, and with limited supplies for the more basic necessities. It was a blessing that her companion and currently sworn knight had such a way with ointments, bandages and handling the infirm - caution these days was never too much, despite Majima’s vigilance. There were very few they could trust to not attempt something suicidal to her or to the prince deemed traitor around these lands - her majesty herself had captured an assassin posing as a refugee with very clear malicious intent towards her betrothed.

And despite such sound arguments, Akiyama would have been drained of all color if he had been there, seeing how minimally dressed they both were and with Daigo having such unrestricted access to the head of state he currently served. The idea alone brought a smile to Melissa’s face, which remained there as she nodded while the prince continued his good work. In a way - they would marry one day, when the war was over; this wouldn’t be out of line then - they might as well get comfortable around each other before the treaties were signed and titles reclaimed.

Her majesty wasn’t averse to the notion in the slightest - in fact, that campaign had brought them closer; Melissa always found herself quite looking forward to the war council meetings every morning, if only because she was sure they would meet. Okamura would surely have perfect advice for this moment - the royal longed to return home (victorious, of course) to share these news with her dear friend and beloved supporter.

Once she was released from his gentle grip, Melissa moved to test and try how she felt with the bandages around her skin; Daigo’s work was quite well-done for one who was no professional healer, and the queen was impressed. But her head was raised and eyes moved to find his features when he started talking about ‘suggestions’, and at her face before the idea of using a ‘cart’ to get around, he immediately laughed and included the additional explanation relating to Okamura.

Bringing her friend up made the queen laugh softly in return, fully aware of how protective she was; frankly, Okamura’s childhood friend (and now husband) had truly found the perfect gift for her in the form of Beau. They were the most impressive golden-maned, ferocious beings around her palace - sometimes, Melissa forgot that she hadn’t been raised at her own home; the spirit and determination of her favorite lady was just like hers.

“I wish I could say you have no reason to concern yourself with her threats, but taking them seriously is, in fact, a very prudent choice,” the woman replied with a soft smile, leaning back into her own chair and massaging her hands in an absent-mindedly fashion now that the worst was over and blood was flowing freely through her limbs. Melissa then eyed Daigo for a moment - the prince needed a bath and rest; he had fought twice as hard as everyone, given how personal it was to him; and yet, he had seen to her needs first.

Was she imagining things or was the man she was set to marry also enjoying their time alone as if their arrangement hadn’t been born out of convenience?

“But you should know, your highness, that there is a small consolation in the fact that Beau’s favorite chewing toy happens to be my adviser and diplomatic liaison. Oh - wait,” Melissa feigned to be thinking about something, smiling mischievously at Daigo next, “I forgot I’ve wedded them prior to departing, so now Akiyama is technically his step-father. I guess you have indeed been promoted to the most interesting meal around.”

Her commentary prompted another chuckle, and she was glad to see the prince joining and sharing her amusement, even if at his expense. Melissa then moved, tentatively setting her foot on the ground and applying some pressure there to see how she felt, pleased with the sting being bearable before leaning forward and linking her fingers. “I do have a counter-offer, which might be of interest.”

Her smile never left - it was a fond throwback to their first meeting in person, where Daigo had rejected what seemed to be a perfectly sound and advantageous offer to propose something that was actually better (and unexpected). In a way, the queen hoped to do the same now, gazing at him with a curious yet clinical look. “According to Mine’s calculations, we are to ride for at least a couple of days until the next fortress - we are hoping for no surprise attacks but it would be prudent to have a skilled fighter by my side while I recover. It seems to me that riding together with my sworn knight and future husband for a few miles would send a good message to the troops - an unified leadership front, mutual support for shared struggles,” the royal explained her reasoning, sustaining his gaze and extremely interested in his reaction.

“What do you think, Daigo?”

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou / @hisroyalmagnificence

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES End Credits Scene