writingescapades

[writingescapades]

i’m okay with fictional men becoming unhinged over the loves of their lives actually 

[writingescapades]

(x Reader) Headcanons - Maintaining and Repairing P

• Sitting him down in the P-Organ chair and opening him up is an intimate occurrence. Only those closest to him are allowed to handle him in such a vulnerable and delicate state. For more complex maintenance, he usually has to expose his chest or back.

• P basically has to coach you on how to properly maintain certain parts of his body, because he can't do all of it himself... Thankfully, he's picked up enough by watching Geppetto that he understands, in general, what needs to be done. You probably should borrow a tough pair of working gloves from Eugenie, though.

• Through the guidance of P and Eugenie, you essentially become an amateur mechanic so you can help your favorite boy stay healthy and in top fighting form. Geppetto, when he’s actually present in the Hotel and not being kidnapped somewhere, is absolutely not allowed to know about this. He would absolutely lose his mind knowing his greatest creation is being tinkered with by an amateur.

• Pinocchio prefers to come to you whenever he needs something minor done. When he needs cartridges or converters installed, he believes you will be the most careful with the cold, sharp components of his superficial mechanical insides. The warmth of your hands coming into contact with the metal inner workings of his body calms him. Your touch when fixing him up is much more attentive and warm than that of his father’s.

(In theory, P likely could install some parts such as amulets or cartridges by himself, but then he wouldn't get to feel your meticulous human hands inside of him, so...)

• Eugenie and Venigni typically handle P’s legion arm when it needs repairs or upgrades. Sometimes though, you’ll notice that the exterior of P’s metal arm is particularly scratched up or stained. After any repairs, P often brings his legion arm to you. You polish the exterior very nicely for him, and make sure the exposed gears and joints are shiny and clean. This tends to make his finger and wrist movements a bit more fluid, too. And while you do all this, he will hover there watching you. Armless, staring, and unmoving. His stare is affectionate, even if you can't tell.

• Post Rise of P, when he’s certainly doing less fighting, there are still times where Pinocchio needs a brief examination to make sure everything is running the way it should. It's not too unusual that he’ll occasionally need a few wires in his chest straightened out, or a valve in his heart tweaked.

• Immediately after the trauma of having his father attempt to rip his heart from his chest, Pinocchio is more guarded about being opened up. He might tense up during regular maintenance or try to avoid it entirely. He knows that he can trust his friends, and you, of course, but the scar that that event left on him hasn't healed.

• Something that helps P is being able to see exactly what someone is doing to him. You can prop up a mirror in front of you while you work so he can see what you're up to in there, and it's a great comfort to P. Be sure to flash him a reassuring smile every once in a while, too.

• After some maintenance, Pinocchio always wants to show you how grateful he is. Once you've closed him up and he's re-dressed, he'll plant a tiny kiss on your forehead or cheek as a show of love for keeping his mechanisms healthy.

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Hello first timer here. May I humbly request please for hcs with Sylus and a scholarly mc like they are a very big book worm who buys and collectd hard bound books and reads voraciously in their off days

Sylus also seems like a reader in his spare time so he'll be reading alongside you. He's got his own library of specialty books set up and books that he's collected just for the fun of it. He doesn't really talk about it much because he's never really had the opportunity to share his interest with others who also get it.

The two of you will start reading books together and discussing them with each other. It's more fun for the both of you to share this interest. If your preferred readings don't overlap with each other so you two don't read the same books, he's still more than happy to listen to you ramble about what you read. He'll also help source books if you're looking for something specific using his convoluted network of intel.

Book dates are going to become very commonplace now that the two of you are aware that you're both readers, enjoying quiet time together with nothing more but each other and the book in your hands.

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Something we should consider more as a fandom Is that everytime rafayel says "oh the sea listened to you" and "ah your wishes are blessed by the sea" we should remember he is the GOD OF THE SEA and when he's saying those things he's basically saying "I ADORE YOU WITH MY WHOLE RANGE OF POWER" because the sea can't just 'bless' you on its own without him

hope this helps

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Does Rafayel really have to choose MC over Lemuria?

Of course, it looks like in a world where Lemuria is revived, MC cannot be there with him; and similarly, in a world where MC is by Rafayel’s side, Lemurians are forced to live on land, subject to all kinds of abuse out of human greed.

But I don’t think Rafayel even considers MC and Lemuria as separate sides. He did try to do that but in the end, I think, he doesn't want to choose one over the other. The thing is, even without the bond he shares with MC, Rafayel truly cares about all of his followers including MC (even the cat that he took care of for a short while).

If we look at how he acts with people around him, it is so easy to see that he is a very caring god. He attends Talia’s wedding to give his blessings. He prepares a gift for her, he designs her a necklace that would match her wedding dress. Through all the bickering, he sees that Thomas looks up to him and he lets him be by his side. He makes Thomas his manager and invites him to the new year’s celebrations.

He helps others hold the Seamoon ceremony for the deceased, and if that is not possible, he brings the flowers for his follower to the funeral of the man who harmed her.

He cares about the children enough to held special workshops for them, and donates art supplies. He cares about the students he gave lectures to in Linkon University when he was just there to keep an eye on MC. He gives them honest feedback, he lets them criticize his works and he remembers them by their names.

And even when he realizes that one of his students was working with Ever dissecting Lemurian hearts, even when he gets angry at the sudden reveal, Rafayel gives the student a chance to explain himself and lets him go, trusting that the student will maybe find the right path in the future.

Honestly, I think, you have to be a special kind of evil to attract Rafayel’s wrath. Because no matter how hasty he may come of time to time, he is a very patient and understanding person. That’s why he still respects the elder Lemurians even if he keeps running away. That’s why he is still with Amund, listening to his advice even when he obviously doesn’t really like him that much.

No matter how much he tries to appear as a cold person, people around him are always aware that they are in the embrace of his warmth.

And, I really don't think he values one over the other or even makes the MC vs Lemuria comparison at all. The thing is I don’t even think Rafayel’s conflict is directly related to his love for MC. Because, even before MC became his follower and he gave her his heart, Rafayel considered Lemuria’s flame as a poor imitation of the sun, a fire that is not hot but just merely warm. And, he did not like the weak warmth emanated from a flame placed in the middle of a cold and dark room. He wanted to break through the surface and bask in the sun’s glow. Maybe, he had doubts about how the Lemuria worked, how the ceremony was held from the very beginning.

And I think that’s also related to why the Sea God ceremony appeared to “fail”. That disastrous ceremony happened the exact way it was told in the prophecy, stating the fire would go out only to be reignited by him. He still left that ceremony with a newborn flame in his hands. A flame that shook the foundations of Lemuria. And I think the flame Rafayel was supposed to have and the flame he actually has after that ceremony is as different as the fire in the temple and the sun.

I kind of think there were two souls in the beginning. One was supposed to take the heart of the other, and make the heart itself the faith that ignites the flame. And the other was supposed to mix into the sea and disappear, only to come back again and reclaim the heart. And continue this never-ending cycle. This heart, taken by force in such a violent way, could only provide a lukewarm flame that cannot be compared to the power of the sun.

Past Lemuria existed as these two souls stole their warmth away from each other to keep this place, in the bottom of a fissure in the deep sea, warm. The past Lemuria existed through the torturous cycle that had to be upheld by Rafayel and MC.

And, maybe that’s why Rafayel considers his attraction to MC as an addictive painful feeling. Maybe that’s why he’s willing to burn by his love for her. And maybe that’s why it is really important that we see Rafayel leaving these feelings behind and embracing love as an inspiration rather than pain. He's ready to break the cycle now and bring Lemuria the sun, instead of a small flame.

I think what happened during the ceremony was MC showed Rafayel a way out of this cycle by giving him her purest faith without Rafayel taking her heart. Although, they still failed in the end. And ended up continuing this cycle for many more years.

So, maybe the good ending for this story is a good ending for both MC and Rafayel, and Lemuria. A good ending where the Lemuria thrives under its new sun’s glow, and a good ending where MC and Rafayel are always by each other’s sides like two koi fish swimming in a pond.

A good ending where Rafayel doesn't have to choose a side and keeps all his followers safe as the caring god he is.

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Lemurian Fairytale

A/N: Idk, I just had this floating around in my head so here you go.

“How do Lemurians punish?”

At first, he didn’t know how to respond.

Your voice was low when you asked. You mind far into another world. Sirens shrilled to Rafayel. Was this it? Were you showing your true colours? Maybe Amund was right. He could not betray his steadfast devotees.

“And why is a ruler concerned over such matters?” the Abysswalker asked you as he flicked his dagger between his fingers.

You were jealous of his dexterity. Actually, there was a lot about this Abysswalker named Rafayel that set you off. You thought yourself a fool to run after him, heart in hand. It was unbecoming. Unlike you. Unexpected. Undesired. Yet there you stood, a fool for what you were about to do.

“You,” you paused, mulling over your words, “enlightened me on how Lemurians love”.

Your heart warbled and stung. You clenched your palms.

“Now, I must understand how Lemurians punish,” you ordered.

Rafayel stared at you with a calculating look and his eyes darkened as a voice sullen and laced with anguish obliged you with an answer.

“We make them live without love,” his voice whispered. Then he sighed before adding, “in all the forms such a punishment entails. Year after year”.

“Until?”

You couldn’t help your curiosity, but the Abysswalker just shrugged. Either he didn’t know, or he didn’t care.

A sudden burst of the setting sun’s last golden rays illuminated Rafayel’s figure. As if to acknowledge the sun’s oblations, the Abysswalker raised his head and gazed out the window. The light climbed up your walls, highlighting the room’s opulence. Gems glittered and gold gleamed. Fabrics that circumvented the room fluttered to life. The myriads of patterns etched on them flanked the solitary man who silently sat. Watching him, the scene felt too familiar, and you couldn’t help but think that Rafayel would forever endure and would always have brilliance cushion his every step.

The Abysswalker’s eyes snapped towards your shadowy figure. His dichromatic eyes invited you towards him, but his hands continued to play with the dagger.

“What happens to those who love the punished one?” you whisper.

“My,” Rafayel drawled. “Our ruler certainly delights in morbid topics”.

When you deigned to bite back the Abysswalker sighed and looked away. After some time he spoke, “I suppose they suffer in their own way as well. To exist knowing their love can never be”.

But they live, you thought, though your words were immediately rebutted by memories of words worshiped onto skin on how Lemurians live for love.

But you supposed anyone can endure any agony in the name of love. Let him call you a fool. Let them call you a betrayer. Faced with no other option, you knew what your heart would choose again and again. And in finally embracing your emotions for once in your life, a cool relief washed over you, as if the ocean waves cocooned themselves around you. You would need them for the crucible that awaited you.

It was a relief that burned the Abysswalker. He felt every move your heart made as it danced you through a whirl of emotions for the past few weeks. He knew you were up to something, so he observed everything. He saw the increased guards near the kingdom’s walls. The long shadows in the palace and whispers that traversed the sands and ended in blood. He picked up the chard remains of inscribed secrets and the sudden changes in alliances. And today, Rafayel saw the last warning that confirmed what he knew. The kingdom’s gate closed before sunset. The palace was silent as it anticipated for the bloodshed that was about to occur. And here you both waited. A ruler and the sole Lemurian left in the kingdom. The only ease Rafayel felt was in knowing that his people were currently in the care of Amund, far away. The elder was furious that Rafayel planned on returning to you despite everything you did. Your dip into freedom may have initiated the cascading backlash, but there was a hand that guided you into the deep and despite everything, it still refused to let go.   

Dusk fell and it dawned on Rafayel that your room was probably the darkest in the palace. He could barely see anything and the objects that decorated your room now alerted you to anyone’s presence as they inevitably stumbled in the dark causing a tinkles, jingles, and rustles. As he tried to make his way to you, he noticed your room was too silent. Then, from a distance drums started to beat. Rafayel expected to hear the sounds of insurrection, but when he heard the beats of an execution, his heart screamed as observations finally settled into place. He snapped his fingers and instantly, fire lit up the room. Its flames emblazed your presence near the door. As he drew near, he saw the corners of your eyes turn red and the stiffness in your body as you braced yourself. Yet you still had the audacity to smile.

“I order you to not stop me,” you started, speaking before he could. “And I order you to survive”.

“Anything else?” Rafayel snarled.

His hand still held the flame, and as your felt its warmth, you found yourself bringing the hand to your heart. Rafayel immediately extinguished his flame, but his hand remained warm firmly enmeshed within yours.

“See you soon?” you asked, then let out a last laugh.

The laugh would haunt him as he was forced to wait in the pitch dark of your room. A laugh that would comfort him as he felt your agony, pearls littering the floor. A laugh that would protect him as he made his way away from the palace and towards an unknown future where your story would unfurl once again.

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Sometimes

Sometimes, Rafayel wants you to hurt. He wants you to feel an inkling, a tiny fraction of the pain you’ve caused him in each and every lifetime. It’s not fair. He gave up everything for you, and you’ve betrayed him again and again. The worst betrayal is you forgetting. How dare you not even hold on to the guilt, the shame, the sadness, the pain, just as he does? How dare you leave him alone in his misery? So sometimes, he wants you to hurt. He wants to say things to twist in the knife, to make you bleed just a few drops of what has gushed out of him every time you interact.

It’s only sometimes though. And each and every time Rafayel feels immediate shame and guilt afterwards. Guilt because he’s supposed to love you. He does love you. So why is it so hard sometimes? Why is it that when you are smiling without a care in the world it both fills his heart with love and venom?

He thinks you don’t notice. He hardly ever acts on these sometimes feelings and even when he does let an unkind word or two slip it’s nothing that couldn’t be chalked up to a lover’s spat. He thinks his pure vitriol is hidden, until one day, where you, seemingly out of nowhere, say, “Sometimes, I think you want me to hurt.” And Rafayel… he doesn’t know what to say. Because sometimes, he really really does.

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Taking Care

Pairing: Rafayel x Fem|Reader

Prompt: Mini fic of Reader being a soft!dom with the lads. (Not necessarily sexual, just sweet 'let me take care of you' vibes)

Word count: 1k

Links to the other lads: (Sylus) (Xavier) (Zayne)

You hadn’t heard from Rafayel in a couple days which was…concerning. For someone that got upset when you forgot to text him at least once a day his radio silence was baffling. You texted, you called, but nothing. You even tried asking Thomas but he just shrugged and said that sometimes when Rafayel was working on a new piece he went full hermit mode. No one but the food delivery driver was going to see him.

You decided that just wouldn’t do. You knew how Rafayel was and you would not put it past him to forget to eat or sleep because he was too in the zone while working. So you went to the store to buy some ingredients for a home cooked dinner and went to his place. You let yourself in using the spare key he had given you and wandered in. No signs of life in the living room or kitchen. You put the groceries away and went to the studio.

Sure enough, there he was. He was sat in the middle of the floor hunched over a canvas. There was some old half eaten food containers shoved off to the side and various sketches scattered around the floor.

“Raf,” you said, “Still alive over there?”

He sat up straight and you could hear his bones crack as he straightened. You could see him wince as he stretched and turned to look at you. “Oh hi,” he said, “What are you doing here?”

“You weren’t answering your phone, I came to check on you.” you got closer and noticed that his entire person was covered in smudges of paint both fresh and dried. His hair was greasy and lank, and there were huge bags under his eyes. There was also an undeniable funk coming off of him that made your nose wrinkle. “Good thing I did too. What on earth are you doing?”

“Inspiration called and I had to answer.” he gestured to the painting. “She’s nearly done. I’ve been adding the finishing touches.”

“Okay. Glad to know you’ve been working hard but this is too much. You smell terrible and when was the last time you slept?”

“I don’t need sleep.”

“Yes, you very much do.” you held out your hand, “You can finish your painting tomorrow. You’re mine tonight.”

“Oh really?”

“Not in that way. Come on.” you hauled him to his feet and pulled him into the bathroom.

“Cutie, this really isn’t necessary--”

“Raf, sweetie,” you cupped his face, “You don’t look well. I knew there was a chance you weren’t taking care of yourself but I didn’t realize it was this bad. Now come along, we’re gonna get you cleaned up, I’m making us dinner, and then you are going to bed. Got it?”

“I know better than to say no to you.” he smiled. “What do you want me to do first?”

“You can start by brushing your teeth and having a shave, you’re stubbly.” you turned him to the sink. “I’m gonna draw you a bath.”

After he had finished you ordered him to strip and get in the tub. There was a cheeky offer to join him but you shook your head and told him he wasn’t getting anything like that until after he had a full night’s sleep. You did however sit at the edge of the tub and reclined his head back so you could wash his hair and massage his scalp. A deep sigh of satisfaction left him as you gently lathered the grease out of his hair. You left him to dry himself off and went to the bedroom to grab a change of clothes and threw his dirty clothes in the wash.

He looked so much better. “There’s my clean soft boyfriend again.” Without having to worry about his bad breath you pulled him down and gave him a kiss, little droplets of water from his still wet hair dripped onto your hands. “Feeling any better?”

“Much.”

“Good. Now come along. I’m gonna get dinner started.”

“Want any help?”

“No. You’ll just slow me down. You can pick out a movie for us to watch though.” you pulled him into the living room and sat him down on the couch. “Stay.”

“Yes ma’am.” he gave a little salute and turned on the TV. You went into the kitchen and started cooking. It wasn’t anything extravagant, just some simple porridge that was filling and hearty.

As you were cooking you kept glancing over at Rafayel just to make sure he was still doing okay. It broke your heart seeing how little he was taking care of himself. Was this what he was like before? How many times had he done something like this? Did Thomas pull him out of his spirals or did he end up just crashing and took care of himself after he got some actual sleep? You didn’t want to know. He had you now and you weren’t going to let him keep up these kinds of bad habits. Inspiration be damned! His health mattered more to you.

Once the food was ready you handed a large serving over to him, threw a blanket over your laps, and settled down to watch the movie he had picked. “Thanks for doing all this. It wasn’t necessary though. I was fine.”

“You were most decidedly not fine, Raf.” you ran a hand through his hair. “You looked like death warmed over and smelled just as bad. It’s not just you anymore, you have to take better care of yourself, doesn’t matter about inspiration. I want you healthy. And if you can’t be trusted to take care of yourself then I’ll do it for you.”

“I’m glad to have such an attentive caretaker.” he leaned his head on your shoulder. “I might just fall asleep right here.”

“Not until after you eat.” you picked up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to his mouth. “Eat.”

“You’re also a very no nonsense kind of caretaker.” Rafayel sighed but happily opened his mouth to accept the porridge.

“I don’t mess around when it comes to caring for what I love.” you kissed the top of his head. “Now keep eating, we’ll go to bed in a bit.”

After dinner was eaten and the movie finished Rafayel was really close to nodding off. He had started slipping about three quarters of the way through the film. When you asked him if he wanted to go to bed he shook his head and said he wanted to finish the movie first. You figured he was just too comfortable curled up next to you to want to move. But when the credits started rolling you dragged him off to the bedroom so he could have a sleep in a proper bed.

You snuggled in next to him, holding him close. “Good night, Raf. Sweet dreams.”

“So long as you are here, I know they will be.” he sighed, his eyes slipping closed. “I love you.”

You smiled and kissed his sleeping face. “Love you too.”

[writingescapades]

I saw a post on how there are 6 guys and they are supposed to be contrasting pairs.

So:

Zayne - Caleb

Xavier - Sylus

Rafayel - ?

and I started to laugh thinking, what if Rafayel's contrast is just the Sea God?

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I don’t think this has been requested yet so, could you guve headcanons for Rafayel where he has a nightmare on loosing MC, wakes up and realizes she’s not there? Maybe she’s gone for a late night mission or got an important call etc, what would he do??

Thanks!

hi!! feel free to read this too!!

Rafayel suffers from nightmares more often than he admits to you. You know that he does because he's such a restless sleeper. You thought it's just something he does but the more nights you spent with him, the more you realised that it was a symptom of these seemingly endless nightmares he has. You feel awful about how frequently they happen but you also can't do anything about it because he won't tell you about them.

He's holding you as you sleep and normally, you sleep through the night when he's got his face buried in your neck but you seriously need to pee. You think about just laying there and seeing if you can go back to bed but you know you'll sleep better if your body isn't spazzing out at you and decide to get up. As you get up you get distracted by a video on your phone, scrolling through others as you sit on your couch to watch them, not wanting to wake Rafayel.

Unbeknownst to you, he already started waking up as you were squirming around, feeling your weight shift in his arms. He hates how cold his body gets without you there. He sits in that moment between sleepiness and wakefulness, dreaming of your body going cold in his hands. That wakes him up immediately, Rafayel sitting straight up as he looks for you.

When he doesn't see you he immediately gets out of bed to look for you, calling your name. Every time you don't reply his heart rate increases. He's near hysterics when he hears your phone playing a video, finding you slumped over on the couch. At first he thinks you've been attacked, immediately trying to ascertain how hurt you are until he hears your soft breathing, totally unobstructed.

He doesn't bother going back to sleep on his bed. He just curls up with you on the couch and holds you tight, letting you hold him as he falls back asleep in your arms. You try to ask him what happened the next morning but he's tight lipped about it, telling you that you pretty little head doesn't need to be worrying about such nonsense.

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raf doodles from september -> january! ive been trying to get better at drawing his face 😭

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Anyone else feel like the LADs story is too complicated?

Like I'm not part of the brainrot generation, but I've never cared for soap operas, and that's what this feels like.

And yeah, I get it, real people are complicated, and that makes the story more realistic.

But I just wanted to kiss cute soft boys, not trauma.

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I see quite a few posts from other people on here that make me think that a majority of the LaDS fandom just intentionally bullies and picks on Rafayel and so I just had to share my thoughts

listen. you don't have to like Rafayel. he doesn't have to be your favorite of the LIs. but the way some of y'all portray him, as this whiny, bratty, diva of an artist with basically little to no other substance, is a gross misrepresentation of his character

this is a man that literally gave up his entire people and civilization in order to be with MC and y'all are telling me that this is how you see him???

seems to me like y'all are completely misunderstanding his character — intentionally, for some of you

this is a man that is terrified

he gave up Lemuria and his fellow Lemurians for MC, only to end up losing her

and now that he's found her in this life, he's terrified of losing her again

his personality — his "tsundere"-ness towards MC — is nothing more than a mask. a mask to hide his true feelings. a mask to hide how completely and utterly devoted he is to her

and if you stop and really think about it for more than five seconds, it makes sense why he would want to keep his true feelings hidden away from her. he fears abandonment. he fears losing her again. he doesn't want to be alone again

this man is willing to use whatever means necessary to quite literally stalk MC just so he can be sure that she is safe. because if he loses her again I'm pretty sure that will be the end of the world for him

he's bonded to her for life. of course he has to keep his feelings hidden behind a facade of aloofness and nonchalance. because if he were to let his devotion to her show, and something were to happen that caused her to disappear from his life again, the very essence of his entire being would be shattered

anyways you can bet your ass that I would go to war to defend my fishie and I will not tolerate any slander of him on my page /j /pos

[writingescapades]

Tempest Rising

Part 1

Part 2

When Pinocchio asked to stay over for a few days, you were sure Geppetto would storm in and drag his son back, kicking you out for good measure. You wanted to ask Pinocchio what his father would do, doodling on a paper as you mulled over every possibility and what to do about it. But the esteemed engineer’s son completely crashed onto your pull-out sofa bed and had yet to wake up. You snuck around getting ready this morning and left a note with a spare key.

              It’s your house. Do as you like.

At work, whenever your thoughts drifted, they would return to Pinocchio and the previous night’s events. Your eyes would drift to your phone, hoping to see an unknown number message you. As you made your way home, you worried over whether Geppetto revoked your entrance key. You didn’t have anyone’s contact number in the building. You half expected to see your stuff lying in the entranceway, but only silence greeted you and your key worked. As you walked to your apartment door, you could hear mewls coming from inside. Was Geppetto inside? Did he have Spring?

Hurriedly, you opened the door only to see Pinocchio cuddling Spring in his arms. The cat nuzzled and pawed at his face and the two seemed to be in their own world until you swung the door opened. Alert blue eyes shot at you but then an easy smile crept up Pinocchio’s face.

“Did Geppetto come by?” you asked.

Pinocchio shook his head, then put down the cat. Spring made her way to you and purred as she wrapped around your feet.

“Welcome home,” Pinocchio greeted.

It was odd hearing someone greet your return. You weren’t sure what you were supposed to do or say, and now that the fear of Geppetto kicking you out was fading, you found yourself falling back on old habits.

“Your sisters?” you signed, ignoring his welcome.

Pinocchio pointed down then shrugged when you asked about his father again. You sighed, and as the day’s exhaustion came back upon you, you realized you were starving. You glanced around at the kitchen and saw that it had remained untouched. As if anticipating your question, Pinocchio started to talk and sign.

“Went to work. Came back a little before you did”.

You nodded then searched around the kitchen.

“No food,” Pinocchio called out and his stomach growled acquiesced.

Pinocchio, you realized, was a very strong man, easily lifting items to put into the cart. You had to stop him a couple of times from buying too much food. His presence in your house, you clearly understood, was a temporary one, and you didn’t want food to go to waste. You expected him to be subdued, even worried, over his and his sister’s situation. Instead the man was almost ignorant, easily swinging an arm as he carried Spring’s cat food across his shoulder. He looked back and gave you a boyish grin, though you supposed it was because you suggested making a meal that he, apparently, loved.

All throughout the evening, you found yourself unnerved by Pinocchio’s presence. He offered to cut the tomatoes, then dutifully watched over the pasta while you made the sauce. You did the dished together, and he helped you clean the kitchen and prep for the next day. It wasn’t that you didn’t like it, you were just unaccustomed to it. Unsure, really, about what he wanted and how to respond. He always turned to you, as if waiting for an order, and when you had nothing to say, he went off to play with Spring. With nothing else to do, you accompanied him, silently watching for the most part until your eyes closed. You didn’t see the soft look on Pinocchio’s face when he saw you were asleep. Nor did you wake up when he gently lifted you and placed you into your bed, taking time to tuck you in and turn your alarm on. You didn’t realize anything until you woke up the next day to your alarm, and Spring’s warm presence on your chest.

Hours after you left for work, Pinocchio glanced around your apartment. Bare white walls. Bare minimum furniture, most of it simple and second-hand. All your kitchen tools fit into one cabinet, and until last night, your fridge was barely stocked. He looked at Spring as she began to scratch the sofa bed. Already the cat started to mark her existence with her fur and cat toys littered around, though you were prompt to go after the cat hair. As he got ready to head out, Pinocchio noticed that all the notes he and his sisters gave you were individually stuck onto the fridge. He smiled and an idea started to form.

Day 1:

You came home to find flowers everywhere. Flowers in vases, in pots, or shoved into old mugs and ceramics. You certainly didn’t own any of it and would have assumed that you somehow entered the wrong apartment, if it wasn’t for Pinocchio sitting on a bar stool greeting you.

“What are the flowers for?” you signed.

“Because I wanted them,” was the only answer he provided.

You did tell him the flat was his to make home, so you couldn’t really complain about the flowers – not that you had any complaint. You wondered how you would take care of them all.

Day 3:

Pinocchio left early that day. After watering the flowers and giving the cut flowers fresh water, you noticed a piece of paper on the fridge with the instructions, “Add something”. Below the words was a circle. Bemused, you added a silly face and a flower hat before heading out.

Day 4:

Pinocchio added a clown costume to the drawing.

Day 6:

Pinocchio brought home his favourite tea set. While the pot simmered, he dealt cards and you both spent the evening attempting to best the other at each card game you knew. Accusations and laughter filled the room, and the tea cups often had to be reheated.

Day 7:

A new drawing was added. This time a square. You added a few more, making it look like a robot.

Day 10:

It was the weekend. Sophia and Eugenie came over. Upon seeing Spring, Eugenie ran over and hugged the cat. The two were inseparable for the evening, but somehow, the four of you managed to play board games while Spring ran about, often knocking over pieces from the game. Shouts of annoyance filled the room, bringing even Venigni over. As the night broke into day, melancholy overtook the room. Eugenie was sprawled out, asleep on the sofa bed with Spring curled up near her. Sophia sat on the ground nearby and Venigni sat next to her. He placed an arm over her shoulders, and you realized then who it was Venigni had been texting the night Geppetto tried to take Spring, and why he even stayed in this apartment complex. A small smile appeared on your face as you nodded off, not noticing whose shoulder your head rested on.

Sophia shot her brother a knowing look, but Pinocchio only raised an eyebrow at her before turning to attend to you.

Day 12:

This time it was Pinocchio who came home to see your bright smile and hear your welcome. This time it was you who left a drawing prompt on the fridge for him to complete. After dinner, you brought out an old duffle bag and beckoned Pinocchio to open it. Inside he found traces of your existence that was desperately missing in the apartment. All your hobbies and old projects tucked neatly away, as if waiting for some archivist to stumble onto them, and hopefully, shine a little light onto your otherwise empty life. Pinocchio wasted no time in taking everything out of the bag, shoving things into every free space he could find. By now the apartment was cluttered with stuff. His clothes and fencing materials. Eugenie’s stuff, for now the sister practically lived here to be near Spring. Even Sophia often left behind an item or two. But you never complained. How could you? For once, life felt like it was blooming. Like there was a place for you and a space for your interests with people who wanted to be with you and worried when they went a day without hearing from you.

But in your life, good things always seemed too good to be true.

Day 15:

You came home early. Sitting on your kitchen counter was Geppetto. He didn’t even bother turning around to greet you and sat as if he was at risk of being infected. Fear surged through you as you slowly backed out of the apartment.

“Stay where you are. This won’t be long”.

Geppetto turned to look down at you with undisguised disgust.

“First my daughter taken over the company and betrays me by partnering with that Venigni when Manus was clearly more ambitious. Then you fiddle with my son, distracting him from his responsibilities. And now you have my daughter looped around you instead of focusing on her duties to me as her provider!

I warned you and I will not be stopped now”.

Saying so, Geppetto slipped off the chair and all but thrust papers into your chest as he walked out the door. He didn’t have to say any parting words, for the word on the paper in all caps spoke everything. EVICTED.

Day 16:

He gave you less than and hour and had a guard on duty to escort you out. You passed Pinocchio on your way out, but before you could say anything to his stunned face, the guard blocked your view and all but shoved you out of the gated community, taking your entry key.

Day 20:

Sophia managed to track you down and brought you over for tea. You sat quietly, sipping tea, pointedly not saying anything to her brother who sat across from you. In the time she got to know you, Sophia understood your character. How could she not when she saw traces of herself in you. The same refusal to show any weakness. To appear well composed and ready at all times. Even now, you refused to wallow in your situation. She knew you were going through many plans, and she knew the consequences of such a life. You had the makings of a leader in you, but no concrete backing. Sophia had her siblings, a multi-million business that she led, and more recently, a partner who truly saw and loved her. She had her scars too, and her father’s gouged deep into her skin. But, she thought, looking over at Pinocchio, our father has gouged his soul.

As she sat back down, Sophia wondered over how she would broach the topic. Despite all her powers, she could not legally contest the eviction. The property belonged to her father, entirely. You were entirely within your right to only concern yourself with finding a home, but somehow, Sophia knew deep down that you would not be content with a quiet life anymore.

“He has been doing this since we were young. Every member of our family has suffered under our father’s ministrations”.

Sophia glanced once at P before continuing. “Every time we carved something of an existence for ourselves, our father would tolerate it only while it suited him. The moment he felt it diverted us, he would destroy our home, and it would take months before we could bear to start again”.

Again, Sophia looked at her brother. He still looked away, but his hands gripped the table. Sophia looked around their apartment. Gone were the photos, drawings, blueprints, and other traces of their identity from the walls. The books were all put away. Only those related to business and engineering remained. The kitchen no longer had any snacks or tea. Spring had disappeared.

“This home lasted the longest before our father came, again”.

Sophia sighed and rubbed her temple, allowing a modicum of her true emotion slip through as she stared at her tea cup. The dark liquid emitted an aromatic aroma, but Sophia felt nauseas at the thought of drinking such bitter tea. It wasn’t that she needed milk in her tea, but their father preferred to tea black, and so no milk was brought into the house. Staring at her cup, it took all her control to not smash the cup into the wall.

Instead, Sophia snapped her head up and in a clipped tone asked, “Are you ready to fight for us? For P?”

It was a big gamble, but Sophia’s life has been nothing but big gambles.

Slowly you brought your eyes to look at her, then at P. Pinocchio stared at you, then looked down as if defeated. Anger that had welled in you for weeks finally rose into a tempest. You opened your mouth, and spoke.

[writingescapades]

First post, hello Tumblr.com

[writingescapades]

Rafayel's Gem Affection outfit without the upper fabrics - edit by me