𝐀 𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐄𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃 across wolf's freckled face has sasha hyena-cackling, somehow having been spared from the onslaught — probably because wolf's body has acted as a shield, but nevermind the details — & he makes quick work of helping to wipe away the mess of it. it's not long before he's swiping the pad of his thumb over the arch of the younger's brow for no reason other than to touch him, a fond smile pulling at plush lips as he's complimented — preening like a cat that's been petted down the length of its back, a flattered flush creeping up his bare chest & arriving swiftly at the apples of his cheeks a moment later. the same comment would have him sneering at anybody else — but from his love, it's a shot of pure dopamine straight to the brain. an addiction, through-and-through. they've been this way for some years now, & it never gets old; feeling like he's won every time wolf looks at him like that. like he's the bane of his existence & the center of his universe, all at once, wrapped neatly into one five-foot-ten frame. “ i did put on sunscreen, ” he insists, stubborn as usual, one delicate hand skating its way up the plane of wolf's bare stomach, broad chest, over the peak of wide shoulders. so much skin laid out before him, & he's sure it's obvious, the way his gaze grows hungry at the sight of it. he's never been subtle, but the weed makes him completely indecent about it — leaning forward to press an open-mouthed kiss to the jut of wolf's collarbone, making his leisurely way towards the curve of his neck. “ when we got here. i'll be fine. ” nevermind the fact that it's been hours, & he's growing pinker by the second; a sunburn is the least of his concerns as of ten seconds ago. a contented sound as he feels the press of lips to his cheekbone, nose, & chin — a match, kindling & gasoline, fueling him to curl lithe arms around his lover's neck, pulling him in & down as he flattens onto his back once more. “ the best, ” he purrs, nuzzling his nose against wolf's, eyes drooping in delight as he draws in the delivered smoke like it's an instinct he was born with. exhales it off to the side, but wastes no time in continuing to brush their lips together, like breathing wolf's air is the one & only objective he has in life ( which, to be fair, isn't far off from the truth ). “ remind me to thank your parents when we go back in, yeah ? ” a lazy kiss stolen off wolf's lips, then, arms tightening python-like, pulling, trying his damndest to get the younger closer, hell — on top of him if it's necessary. “ not now, though. later. ” if it wasn't clear enough by the way he lets one hand roam up into the fluffy hair at the back of wolf's head, anchoring itself there & tugging, while the other begins a meandering journey southwards, starting with his chest.
the hot wax of a radiating sun hits freckled skin in waves, chest flush with a dark curve of healing ink, the patter of paws tumbling through heavy sand in frivolous hops. he'd taken the time to exercise both parties with a quick run, sweat dripping from the line of his brow as they close in. there's always a terror that sneaks between the ridges of his brain — it's all a dream. the moment someone's shaking his shoulders, this alternate world is snatched from underneath. there's a comfort none other than the crash of salty waves can bring, knowing what's brought forth on land will be washed back in at the lick of salt. the swell of his heart manifesting in the beachhouse that still stands before him, built by the hands of his fathers in bleeding labor & abhorrent devotion. wolfram is taking a moment, for the first time in a while, to drink in the prospect of being deserving of such luck. an unnerving thought that draws further out as he watches them clink their glasses from their place on the couch, vero mumbling something that elicits a hardy laugh from his husband, face reddening with a shy flush as they move in closer; closer than thought humanly possible. eyes are snatched away at the shameless crooning from his lover, hands encompassing small digits with a warm rumble, sitting beside him & allowing his legs to stretch out, the ache & burn of a good run causing a wincing lilt at the corner of his lip.
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“ you want to know what i think ? ” an obviously rhetorical question, just above a whisper — the only evidence of the frustration roiling below his diaphragm in the slight curl of his lip. he leans in, slowly, planting a hand on the mattress to support his weight as he shifts out of his chair. closer, closer — until he's inches from wolf's face, until he can feel the angry heat radiating off of him, & he might be sick in the head, because the only thing he can think about it how he wants to bask in it. his eyes flick carefully between wolfram's, letting him steep in the silence, watching him shiver. “ i think that you're a filthy. . . fucking . . . liar. ” stated in his usual soft, lilting voice, the same he's used so many times before while sharing some useless fact that had sprung to the forefront of his mind. & despite his signature nonchalance, his stomach churns, knowing what chaos he's choosing to sow — a nausea brought on by unchecked, all-consuming compulsion. “ you can't stop thinking about it. it's the only thing you think about. & you pretend it means nothing to you. but it's eating you alive. isn't it ? ” another tilt of his head, gaze trailing absently down to the curve of wolfram's lips, the rapid-fire thrumming of his jugular vein. sasha knows what he's doing — sticking his hand between the bared teeth of a furious beast, far beyond praying it won't bite. at this point, he's simply hoping his blood will stain. “ and that's fine, wolf. you can lie. god knows i'm a liar, too. ” sasha's gaze flickers back up to meet the prince's rageful stare, his own half-lidded in something like acceptance. his fingers curl into the silken sheets, his free hand moving to steady himself against the headboard above wolfram's head, caging him in. this is the end, he thinks — of what, he's not sure, but he knows, from all the times he's ruined things before & all the times he'll ruin things after now, that he's not getting out of this unscathed. “ you can be a liar. but i know you. & you're not a fucking coward. ”
there's not much that can sway the facade that displays a certain stoicness, but the mention of his companion does it easier than anything else could. a tsk of a tongue in jealousy for the siblings that have tried for years on end to hook, line & sink at least a twitch of lip or a hint of tremor in timbre. but nothing. nothing at all. yet, the thought of hund laying about . . . believing to be forgotten. to be another nothing in the life of wolfram wagner. ' a simple nothing ' he's a fair player at making people feel. an act others believed he'd loved to commit. when in fact, he didn't. it was just easier. something he was unfairly good at. something that brought him too much comfort to change. especially now, as cerulean hues roam blank features for anything. there's not much he can say. which, isn't a surprise to anyone. but luckily the conversation has shifted from the soft movement that comes unnaturally, a feral instinct to touch, to be close without intending to. he pinches himself for it, eyes drifting from their place on sasha's own to the canine below once more. much obliged by a lick & bare of fangs, tongue lolling sideways. ❝ really ? ❞ his voice comes out far more boyish than he'd wanted it to, the disbelief of relief accentuating the concern in knitted brows. why anyone would willfully volunteer to look for a dog despite the absolute fucking catastrophe of nights that occured was unbeknownst to him. this sudden act of kindness was wrong. odd. he's shifting over with a wince, wanting nothing more than to search himself before they can get their hands on him. but the ball drops. there's a tension in the atmosphere that resurfaces. the attempt to remove himself from it, throw it back into sea chained to a two ton stone. the audible uncertainty that reaches sasha's tone causes him to glance back up, eye contact mean & stern in the way lids fall into half mast. not a care in the world despite the thrum of a beating heart that skydives into the vat of acid below his belly button. an effort to take control. about that night . . . ❝ don't, ❞ he warns, lowly, a gruff timbre akin to the growl of a nearing grizzly bear. he knows that sasha's been the only opponent to diffuse his anger, rid himself of becoming prey & pushing past the boundaries that wolf's put up. an attribute that's kept his attention fused to the younger lukin. now it's what causes his arm to outstretch & push him back, away from feeling what he'd felt that night.
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closed starter ⇢ 𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖔 𝖉𝖊 𝖑𝖆 𝖗𝖔𝖘𝖆. ( @aresenics ! )
𝓼𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 . . . summer 2006 on a borrowed sailboat, around 10pm.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐎𝐗 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐎-𝐁𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐄 into the place where it rests against his chest even through two layers of fabric, tucked safely within the pocket of his flannel — a sharp contrast provided by the press of cool metal in the form of the cross he's worn since he was a child, nestled just a few inches away against his sternum. the difference in temperature grounds him, keeps him tethered to the here & now despite how he could vibrate out of his skin at any moment. a cool, clear night & calm waters set a serene backdrop for what's about to happen — what vero has no idea is about to happen. in retrospect, this wasn't diego's wisest of plans. practically trapping his beloved — flighty, uncontainable vero, skittish & wily by nature — on a boat out in the middle of the bay so he can pop the question. diego knows little about where vero came from, but wherever it was, it ingrained within him an instinctual need for means of egress — always with his back to the corner, dark eyes flitting around in calm cautiousness. it should chill him, but instead, diego finds a warmth flooding from his fingertips to his cheekbones at the idea of vero bending one of so few rules he has in order to spend a night with him on a borrowed, worn-down sailboat. “ they should be visible soon, ” diego calls, voice strained as he pulls the last sail in, stationing the boat amongst a sandbar. he hopes — prays — that he's chosen the right night. it's only once a year, & he's gotten it wrong before. meticulous planning & several pairs of eyes ( in the form of his meddling sisters ) keeping careful watch of the weather leaves him fairly confident that this is it. he moves, perhaps a little bashfully, to the bow of the boat where vero stands, leaning over the railing to peer into the water. diego — still shy, somehow, even after a year of learning each other — sidles up behind him, curling one strong arm around the smaller's waist to gently tug him backwards. “ i'm afraid you'll fall, ” an admission that comes out meek, as if it's an apology for even attempting to control vero's movements. a concealed adjustment of his shirt serves as a subtle attempt to assure the ring is still safe in its temporary home — the press of the box into his ribs assures him so. a careful move to spin vero in his arms, an awestruck little smile on his face; he wonders if his eagerness betrays him, if it's obvious that his nerves are alight with anticipation. regardless, he leans down for a kiss, overcome with a devotion so intense that he simply can't go without verbalizing it any longer: “ mi amor, ” words pressed almost urgently into vero's lips before he pulls away to speak, forehead resting gently against the other man's temple. “ i know it hasn't been long . . . ” . . . & if he wasn't so enraptured with the man in front of him, he might've more quickly caught sight of the way the water around them begins to glow.
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closed starter . . . wolfram wagner. @aresenics !
setting. . . the beach. summer 2024.
𝐒𝐔𝐍-𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 the space between sharp shoulder blades as he lies back on the beach towel they'd sprawled out upon their arrival, a fresh joint caught between plush lips & two empty beer bottles nestled into the sand nearby. forty-five minutes under the afternoon sun coupled with the bit of alcohol in his bloodstream equals piebald skin rapidly turning various shades of pink, flushed from his forehead to the dappled span of his chest. long fingers snatch the roll & his arm drops lazily to the side as he inhales sharply, eyes shut, breathing out a smooth cloud of smoke a few moments later. the heat has him feeling spectacularly sleepy — even more so than usual — feels like he could doze off at any moment now, with the peaceful soundtrack of the ocean lapping at the shore some fifty feet away & the most perfect breeze cooling his flushed skin. this is the real vacation. ten days on the coast in wolfie's parents' house sounded lovely on its own, but this — this is what he'd truly been looking forward to. the serenity of a beach town; being far, far away from the city ( that he'll start to bemoan about missing right around the halfway point of their vacation ); the lack of schedule, cozied up in bed 'til two in the afternoon & staying up 'til five gazing up at the stars they never get to see back home; the way the dogs seem to know, too, that this is a special occurrence. speak of the devil — sasha's eyes blink open at the incoming symphony: panting, paws pattering, collars jingling as the dogs bound towards him, returning from their walk down the length of the beach. sash lifts his head & grins, props himself up on his left elbow, cooing to greet the dogs as they shove their noses in his face, kicking sand onto the blanket. “ мои милые. ” a hand on each of their fuzzy heads, scratching behind their ears as they snuffle at him, pulling a boisterous laugh from his chest before they tumble off to engage in yet another wrestling match. approaching not far behind them is the north star itself — or, at least, sasha's equivalent of such a thing — & he beams at the sight of the man, sitting up a bit more & reaching an arm up to lazily grab at wolfie once he's close enough, tugging him down, insistent & greedy in his affection as always. “ baby, ” he sing-songs, pressing his forehead to the side of wolfie's face, pressing in close despite the way the heat radiating off of the other man is near-unbearable with the sun beating down on the both of them. sasha doesn't care. he'd boil alive if it meant staying plastered to wolfie's side for five whole minutes. “ i missed you. did they like the water ? did they swim ? ”
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𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 at the deadpan tone with which the joke is delivered, a quiet scoff of a laugh punched out of him. despite how others might see her as naive & unwitting, he'd always known her to have a sense of humor — & this moment is no exception. he's always liked that about her; her quick wit & sharp tongue. it's made for fantastic banter over the years, & if he's truly honest with himself, it's one of the reasons he's found himself to be especially fond of her. “ truly a thankless role you play. people should be more grateful for you. i know i am. ” he grins playfully, reaching a hand across the small table to give hers a squeeze where it lay atop the deck of cards. his eyes turn down to their hands, then. it's. . . nice, he thinks, to be so comfortable. he's used to flirting for a purpose; knows how to be charming for the sake of sweetening a deal or buying his way into someone's good graces. but this is. . . familiar. it's aimless, & in that way, new to credence. curious & exploratory rather than conniving. he ponders the question, lips parting briefly as he goes to speak, before they close again, instead curling up into a knowing smile. he leans forward, lifting his gaze to meet hers, flicking in a slow triangle from her left eye, to her lips, to her right eye. “ quite, ” he murmurs simply as he slowly turns his hand, caresses her wrist — cursory enough to be passed off as a fleeting, unintentional touch — before taking the deck of cards, moving to deftly begin shuffling them. “ i'll make a deal with you, ” he begins. “ & you're welcome to say no. won't be offended in the slightest. ” he deals their cards, then sets the rest of the deck aside. “ if you win, you get one free favor from me. as in, you can tell me to do whatever you want, & i'll do it. but if you lose — ” he folds his hands on the table in front of him, meeting her eyes once more. “ you've got to kiss me. ” he frames it like it would be a punishment to do so, chuckling playfully. it's bold, but lighthearted enough that, if he's read the room incorrectly, she can easily laugh it off as if he's joking — a carefully constructed air of levity, or perhaps ambiguity, to avoid creating an uncomfortable situation. “ what d'you say to that? ”
laughter bubbles past her lips without her permission once the house of cards collapses right before her eyes, unable to hold it in despite not originally setting out to poke fun at credence's strong attempt. “ mm, perhaps being an architect isn't in your future after all ? ” dahlia teases with a sweet smile, mirroring him where she sits down. goodness, what would anybody ever do without you, dahl ? the words alone work to brighten her smile that much more, completely fond & suddenly mesmerized by the compliment, such words rare for her to hear from those in her life. she's reminded of the younger version of herself that hopelessly crushed on the english prince, her psyche often putting him at the forefront of every sonnet she consumed back then. maybe it's why she feels a flutter in her stomach now when her eyes meet his, & can only hope that her momentary bout of nostalgia doesn't shine through too much. “ well, for starters, ” dahlia begins, expression morphing into something completely serious, “ probably somehow mistake poison ivy for basil & end up in a porridge bath. ” uses the deadpan joke to deflect from the fact that credence has actually left her a touch flustered, fingertips drumming against the cards placed in front of her. “ it's... let me think. blackjack... ” card games were always a staple form of entertainment, especially when the weather wasn't kind enough to let playing outside be an option — some games were completely rule of mouth, some were created right in the moment... dahlia was always sure to memorize every single one. “ we total our cards, right ? this is where i best you. ” a challenge, gleam in her eye returning as she leans in a little closer. “ how confident are you feeling ? how lucky ? ”
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it's not that romeo doesn't like dogs. he loves them, actually — he had one growing up, a big retriever his father had gifted him for the purpose of a hunting tool, but the dog ended up being so bad at hunting that he ended up as more of a companion to a young romeo. he just wasn't expecting to run into such a BIG dog while out on a walk, & so unexpectedly — he wavers slightly, taking a small step back with a polite smile as he & the canine make eye contact. " hello, bear, " he greets awkwardly, silently hoping he's deemed worthy or safe or whatever the hell won't get him tackled by this beast for approaching her master. " well, she sure is beautiful, " he comments with a reedy laugh, eyes shifting to the man instead of the dog for the first time since he'd happened upon them. " is she ... friendly? or should i ... turn around & go back that way? " he half-turns, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
open starter ›› @francehqstarters
where: somewhere outside.
war had made him vigilant. his eyes were closed as he enjoyed the warm weather but the rest of his senses remained alert. his dog also rested at his feet. someone else on guard. another's footsteps approaching was noted, but it was only when he felt their eyes lingering that timur opened his eyes. irritation rose due to being interrupted. could he not have some peace in this damn place? ❝ her name's bear. ❞ he motioned toward the greater swiss mountain dog. timur would prefer thinking they were looking at the large dog than him, or worse, the scar, though fainter now than it'd once been, next to his left eye. ❝ she's not as scary as her size suggests. ❞
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yuichi smiles down at her ruefully, letting out a soft sound as he listens. it's a difficult thing for him — empathy. he never learned how to show it, & practicing it with her feels ... strange, considering how easily it seems to come to her. but she's the only person who's ever made him want to. " i was terrified, " he admits after a moment, eyebrows furrowing as he lifts a hand to gently graze against her cheekbone. " not of the situation. i was certain from the moment we were trapped that it would resolve itself. i was just ... " he sighs, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. " i was afraid of what you might've been going through. we didn't know what was going on outside. i ... couldn't help but worry they had gotten to you, too. " he pulls away, then, looking down at her. " but we're safe, yeah? both of us. aren't we lucky? "
Diana sighed as she finally came up to him, her arms went to wrap around his torso as she hugged him tightly. It felt like a relief, finally being able to hold him in her arms, to touch him and to see with her own eyes, that he was unharmed. "I know, I'm sorry." She said as she pulled away, looking up at him. Diana leaned into his touch, shaking her head slightly. "You don't have to apologize, it wasn't your fault." She paused. "I just felt useless on the outside, not knowing what was happening, if you were alright. It was the worst feeling I ever felt."
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" having been served wine of poor quality does not mean we are allowed to simply leave without fair payment, " diego notes in only half-hearted irritation, the slight smile still present on his face betraying him. yes — this, oddly enough, is the thing he'd missed about his brother most; their never-ending bickering spells that somehow dissolved into reminiscing about the highs, the peaks. a snort leaves him when gabriel questions the intention behind the news of maria's betrothals — he shoots him a sideways, admonishing glare. " don't get any idiotic ideas, " he warns with a rueful chuckle, shaking his head & willfully choosing to ignore the look gabriel sends his way. a knowing sort of look — a silent reminder of where he'd come from, & the history he can't quite seem to escape. in avoiding his brother's gaze, he looks down at the object he'd picked up off of his desk. a dagger, oddly enough — still sheathed. he sets it down again, eyebrows furrowing, looking mildly uncomfortable with the ironic timing. " he seems fine. courteous enough. maria has yet to complain. it was her idea, actually. " he squints at gabriel's hands as they begin to fuss with the other objects on his desk, reaching over to shoo him off as if he's some kind of crow picking away at a carcass. it's not an unfit analogy, he supposes. " the beginning of a relationship, " he answers simply, turning to lean his hips back against the edge of his desk. " in the most literal sense, but also between our nations. we needed a strong alliance in the west. " he looks down at the carpet below his feet, eyebrows furrowing as a quiet huff of a laugh leaves him. " goodness. i sound like father, don't i? "
The pendulum between peace and resentment swing back-and-forth, as it always has between the good King and his terrible brother. Yet Gabriel finds comfort in it. This evolving chasm between them is part and parcel with becoming a formal De La Rosa once more. His expression of mirth is undeterred, even as Diego threatens to waver. Gabriel knows that the right anecdote would pull him back in, and he's proven right with the merry tale of their younger years. Laughing heartily, his shoulders shake. This, in truth, is not performative. Diego describes better days, when they had more in common than they had apart. "It's not as if he served us anything of renowned! It was table wine. The French only serve that swill to servants - and pirates." And though the De La Rosa's endear themselves to the everyday person, no one can mistake the gold that propped them up into power. Eventually, the French would need to cow tow to the new world order. What is lineage to wealth? Unfortunately, Diego seems more than willing to partake. News of Maria's betrothal earn a look of surprise, that's masked with quick familial endearment. If Diego only knew what Gabriel did of his daughter, then his concern would stretch beyond her Austrian entanglement. "Is that code, brother? Have you already forgotten how us pirates talk?" A coded look upon his face - don't forget from whence you came. "If he's trouble, say the word. I can do what needs to be done." He answers back with a wink, almost in jest... Though they both know the things Gabriel is capable of. "It's only marriage." Gabriel shrugs, mindlessly moving Diego's item on the desk. "What's it signify?"
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othello lets out a warm chuckle at the suggestion that he is not the only new monarch who feels out of place — if it's true, they have an awfully odd way of showing it. otto feels so terribly obvious in every cabinet meeting, glancing from side to side to find out if he should agree or disagree. " oxford? i hadn't known you attended there. a real genius on our hands, hm? " the smile on his face is playful, teasing — not unlike their younger selves, chasing each other through the ambrozy estate with wet paintbrushes & trying their damndest to ruin the other's shirt. a look of joyful realization flashes across otto's face, a laugh escaping him as his mind floods with a memory. " you nearly passed out because you locked your knees, " he says through his laughter, lifting a hand to cover his mouth. he wonders, briefly, if the appearance of his smile — one of his best qualities, if he does say so himself — is tainted by the healing injury to his face; it's only just stopped being painful to emote, & while he's never been insecure about his appearance in the past, he's become familiar with the constant awareness that comes with the dark mark now ruddying his jaw & chin. " i told you so many times you could just sit, but you were determined to stand the whole entire time. " otto shakes his head with a fond grin, leaning forward to land a painless, playful whack to lassie's knee. " would you sit for me again — for a portrait? if i asked you to? "
" well, we find ourselves evenly matched then, on that field. " eyebrows rose with the words, soft in their delivery, for neither of them had expected to find themselves in positions they now held. " and in any sense, at least you are not alone in feeling that way. i cannot speak for all the newly promoted kingdom placeholder's, but... know this, there is plenty of nerves shared by all. " he spoke discreetly of his own country of interest, now employed to litchenstein, but also... in the regards of loss, in general. with lassie's own father missing, he understood now more than ever just a snippet of othello's pain. and the desire to hide from the subject of it, so he said nothing else on the idea. a laugh followed his blunder, and lassie was struck at how familiar the scene was, despite the years && tragedy between them now. almost like young teens again, poking fun && testing limits between art sessions. " it's a newer hobby. i picked it up at oxford. " a shrug, and lassie busied himself gathering his charcoal stubs, his looseleaf parchment, back into their home satchel. then, eyes darted playfully to othello, and lassie could only hope the shade of pink would not rise yet again to his cheeks. oh, how easily he could change color, it would always be a source of his pain, truly. " now, listen here, i thought i was the model between us? " - referencing to an old session of his father's, using lassie as a model for the portrait lesson. maybe othello wouldn't remember; lassie wouldn't blame him.
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at the instruction, aleksei's gaze immediately shifts to the small sideboard housing quite the collection of liquor, & he obediently moves to begin fixing them a pair of drinks, listening all the while. he does his best to hide the way his eyes drift absentmindedly to isaak, watching him in side-profile, before flicking down to focus on the task at hand ( only to drift upward again not even a moment later ). " i like it. it feels ... like a home, " aleksei comments softly, offering a shy smile. he pours himself a modest glass of red wine & nearly spills it, considering he's too busy watching the other man untuck his shirt, mesmerized by the v-shaped sliver of skin that appears as a few buttons come undone. " of course, " he responds, perhaps a bit breathlessly, in their native tongue, as he fixes a glass of a taste of their home — vodka, evidently one that isaak must have brought with him from russia. aleksei hesitates briefly before downing a quick, secretive shot of the same vodka, deciding that perhaps a bit of liquid courage couldn't hurt him — especially once he's invited to ... share isaak's seat. he swallows thickly as he takes his wine glass in one hand & the vodka glass in the other, moving molasses-slow in the space between them, approaching with a mix of both caution & anticipation. he's ... unsure, of what's happening here. but for once, he wants to find out. " i'd like to, " aleksei murmurs, gaze locking with isaak's as he goes to hand the other the vodka glass, folding one of his legs under him as he goes to sit beside him — their legs touching, their bodies ... far too close to be only friendly. he takes a slow sip of his wine, & it leaves his lips stained slightly burgundy as he sets the glass aside, shifting closer in one slow, fluid movement. " isaak... " his name leaves his lips on an exhale, adam's apple bobbing in his throat. liquid courage. he lifts a hand, suppressing the way it trembles as he moves to gently caress isaak's jaw, the pad of his thumb stroking carefully over his dimpled chin. " i ... are you ... are we ... — " he starts & stops, gaze falling from the other man's eyes to his lips.
a pitying look is cast to aleksei, knowing in it's slight eye roll. menace was a nicer word to use for his brother; and lips turned up in a grin, despite himself. " trust me. the more boring i get, the more sasha has to compensate, it seems. look at him now - i swear. cannot let the boy go anywhere without problems. " said more fondly than usual; surely, within a few days time once he was up && walking once more, isaak would be back to bickering and sighing from the migraines. for now, it was easy to think of his younger brother... fondly, with some warmth. once inside isaak's chambers, he stepped in enough to make room, and knelt beside duchess to unfasten the collar && lead kept 'round her neck, rubbing the fur under it and giving her rump a few scratches, before she ran off to make herself comfortable. the duke encouraged aleksei to do the same, and kicked off his shoes with a subtle groan after falling into a chair. " you can, usually. if it is dark enough. " isaak answered, touched and mildly amused to have made such an impact. he'd thought his fascination with the stars would have been regarded as odd, or boring, but it seemed maybe they both suffered from that insecurity. " feel free to pour us some drinks, to your left. " he watched the other, admiring how aleksei looked && moved within his space... and only then, realizing the bit of a mess left over. " i do not usually have... guests. you can forgive it being a bit, well, lived in, i suppose. " a chuckle, because really, isaak did not really give too many fucks how his room would appear, nor how it'd be judged. not with aleksei. the loosened his shirt, undoing the top couple of buttons, unrolling his sleeves, and untucking it from his waistband to try && loose some tension of the day. " bring me something strong, пожалуйста (please). " a moment, a heartbeat passed, and isaak looked at the space left beside his thin frame in the overstuffed chair... " there is room enough for us both, probably, if you would like to.... sit with me. "
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santiago sighs, lifting his eyes to meet benny's, an exasperated look on his face. " i am too tired for your ... snark, " he mutters, blinking slowly as his eyes drift to the soldier's arm. wordlessly, he reaches out to gingerly take benny's upper arm into his hand, pulling him slightly closer in order to inspect the sling. " is it broken? " he asks after a moment, expression laced with an undercurrent of worry — he knows better than anyone that freaking out will only make benoît shut down even further.
with the glare benny just raised his shoulders in a slight shrug. ❝ what ? am i wrong ? ❞ he grumbled only partially under his breath, as he made his way over to santiago fully. ❝ fine. i'll live, ❞ he answered, very much wanting to push any sort of attention off of himself. he shouldn't have gotten hurt, he considered it a failure, just as he failed to protect others on the search.
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in all honesty, yuichi had known from a combination of his sister's mood & his interaction with the chinese prince that ... something was off between them. what, exactly, he's not sure — nor does he intend to care. but intentions so rarely align with reality for yuichi these days, & he finds himself leaning his shoulder against the doorway that leads to the balcony, a concerned little furrow to his brow as he waits for his sister to notice him. it doesn't take long, & his head tilts, meeting her smile with a half-amused one of his own.
" plenty. just none i plan to share with you, " he tips his head up at her in a movement that could've been described as playful, if he weren't so stubborn about having any sort of fun. his expression softens a bit at her immediate dismissal of him — & for once, he doesn't bite back or make himself scarce. " i train every day, ane. where do you think i am when i'm not here? " he cocks an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. he waits a beat, before beginning to prod & poke. he's just curious, is all — or that's what he tells himself, at least. " i sparred with your lover boy the other day, actually. " casual as ever. he's sure it's obvious that it's bait. " good fighter, that one. his judo holds could use some work, but a fair fight overall... "
@rcsplendent | Late Evening, Yuichi and Midori at the Yamoto Apartments
She's never known heartbreak before. A peasant girl without two yens to her name, or a family to call her own. There's been nothing for Midori to lose. Now, however, she has an embarrassment of riches; a crown, a family, a lover. And each one hangs over her head, like a weight she cannot shake. What was better - having it all, or having nothing at all? Her hand tightens along the railing of the balcony, quelling her ache into a stollid look. Fortunately, the rustling behind her is an interruption. Cool eyes glancing over her shoulder, there's a hint of a smile, however odd it was for the pair of them.
"What? No plans to whisk Diana away to some romantic enclave?" Midori snorts, purposefully derisive to distract Yuichi's overbearing eyes. Once upon a time, she loathed his ability to see the sum of her parts. Now, it is intolerable - if only because she cannot hide the sadness in her broken heart. "You need to find a hobby, or a quartet of burly soldiers to train with. It's a summer night - being holed up in the apartment is tragic." Not as tragic as her, mulling about a balcony while Tian Feng was out god knows where fucking god knows who. But Yuichi didn't need to know that.
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ophelia had heard of a shop in a nearby village that offered the loveliest of imported persian silks, & with the queen's permission, had gone to purchase a bolt or two. the trip had been delightful, & she carries her bounty with her in a handmade tote. she'd timed it well, or so she thought — she'd intended to make the journey back to versailles during sunset to enjoy golden hour, but a gloom had casted itself through the sky, making everything dark & grey. for that reason, she finds herself a bit on-edge as she walks briskly along the path — so much so that she jumps at the sound of a man's voice, turning to face him with a quiet yelp. however, she quickly dissolves into laughter. " goodness! you startled me, " she beams at him, eyebrows furrowing as her gaze flicks to the gold in his palm. a look of realization washes over her face, & she quickly inspects the bottom of her bag — sure enough, it's torn, & her loose change had indeed been pouring out of it unknowingly. " oh — ! god — how awfully ironic. i'm a seamstress — how embarrassing of me, " she flushes, laughing nervously as she chances a glance at the man's face. he's ——— terribly handsome. devastatingly so. she's not proud to be acting like a schoolgirl about it, but, well. it's been a while, is all. " i — oh, is that true? i've never come this way before... " she looks down the path, fingers resting delicately against her lips, eyebrows furrowing in worry. she looks back at him, cheeks reddening. " would you? that would be so lovely of you. you keep those — " she reaches for his hand unthinkingly, folding his fingers back over the coins in his palm. " — as a thank-you. well — not that i mean to imply you look as if you need it. " she smiles sheepishly, already horribly embarrassed by her own rambling. " you're, um... " she pulls her hand away, realizing belatedly that her hand is still lingering against his, & tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear. " you're a prince of china, yes? i — i think i've heard of you. "
closed for @rcsplendent -> ophelia.
setting -> the road to versailles palace from the villages
though summer brought long days && bright evenings, clouds had come in overhead, casting shadows long before the sky ought, and catching darkness to those who thought they'd have, easily, another hour yet. feet trod home, heavy on the path but his spirits not as low as they'd been of late. things were calming, maybe - they may even stay that way, if tian feng dared to hope, and the dark worried him little as he made way the now-familiar path. pale moonlight glimmered off a coin, then two... three.. in a line, and curious, tian feng picked up his pace, to see where the trail may lead. he need not look far, as he crest the hill, and caught sight of only one other on the path. " excusez-moi, my lady, i think your garments may have a hole. you are dropping your riches for just anyone to find. " and then, after catching up to them, tian feng revealed the gold in his palm, and flashed a smile. " you should be more careful, especially walking this street alone. it is uncommon, but there are occasionally thieves laying in wait along this way. perhaps i could walk with you. "
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credence looks about fifteen years younger than his own age, with how he can barely contain himself from the second he walks into the room. " i KNEW it would be a girl! i knew it! " he whisper-yells, punching the air in a silent expression of his delight ( both at the fact that he has a new niece, but also at the fact that his prediction was correct ). he moves cautiously to stand behind defne, leaning his elbows on the back of the couch to gaze over her shoulder at the baby. " oh my days, would you look at that, " he coos, leaning his chin in the palm of his hand. " goodness. she's so small. wow. wow. you did good, defne. oh! speaking of which — " he turns to her, grinning apologetically. " how are you doing? "
@francehqstarters / defne + open
location: the windsor drawing room
she already had the patience of a princess, defne thought with so many wanting to hold her, and coo at her. though with how much of an easy baby edward was it does not surprise defne that her daughter is also an easy baby. though it does test defne each time someone picks her up, she is happy everyone seems to remember to support her neck. she smiles from her spot on the couch. she nods. "yes she was born at around three pm two days ago," defne response. "she's still very new."
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laurie's frustrated expression shifts into something sad when amin moves closer to them, tilting their head up instinctively to meet him halfway in the gentle kiss to the top of his head. he frowns, ready to be entirely adamant that he's not that upset about this, but the slight glassiness to his eyes betrays him. " it just wasn't fair, " he signs, before leaning heavily into their fiancé's embrace & letting out a quiet, forlorn sound, resting his head underneath amin's chin. he stays there for a moment, reveling in the comfort of simply holding & being held by his other half, before pulling away slightly to sign up at them. " i haven't been treated like that since i was a child. " he frowns, shaking his head as he goes to start unfolding the picnic blanket, waving his hand in an attempt to dismiss his own complaining, speaking aloud: " & now i'm in an awful mood. i'm sorry — i don't want to ruin our picnic... "
amin followed along with laurie's signs, nodding to show that he was listening. but they never got to really add anything back, laurie signing so animatedly and feverishly that they just waited until they were both finally standing still. amin walked over, putting their hands on both of laurie's shoulders and looking down at them. they leaned in to press a kiss to the top of their head, a soft ❝ baby, ❞ slipping from his lips. he pulled one hand away to reply to laurie, the other snaking around their waist. ❝ i am so sorry that happened to you. ❞
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romeo's eyebrows draw further in at the prospect of valentina looking for him after he'd returned. in all honesty, he's not entirely sure where he stands with his sister at the moment — not that it's entirely val's fault, considering that he's been avoiding her like the plague ever since he'd revealed his ... past financial missteps to her. his jaw ticks when it tightens in response to luciana's reasoning, & he lets out a slow breath through his nose, realizing that like sand sifting through his fingers, he's losing control of his own narrative. it would be awful of him to blame this all on valentina, & it's not like he even wants to do that. a younger version of himself might have, but now, the guilt would eat away at him far more than it already does — & god knows another ounce of shame would surely break him. " darling, " he says, quietly, absently — nearly before she's finished speaking herself. his eyes slip shut for a moment, before drifting open again, looking off to the side. is really going to do this? he's going to say it, isn't he? " i've ... got to tell you something. it's related to ... my sister's — um. contempt for me at the moment. " he looks over at her, finally, expression pulling into one of worry. it's then that he notices his heart begin to pound in his chest, his hands tingling as the anxiety rising behind his sternum threatens to boil over. he's ... not sure he could bear it, if this changed her opinion of him. but he also can't bear the weight of keeping it from her any longer. " it's got nothing to do with you, or — or us. i just ... it's something i've ... done. something i did, that i have to ... fix. & she's upset with me for it. "
" yes, i did get that opinion myself as well... but i suppose she had heard of the wounded, and wondered how you fared after participating in the search party. " luciana brought her eyes back to his, for she, too, were of the observant breed. from her bed, she'd watched the drama between servants unfold; she could discern her governesses moods by a twitch of their lips or brow. romeo was hard to read... but he did seem, just for a moment, nervous? her teeth sank into her cheek, and the princess felt bad for being nosy, but opened her mouth again anyway. " it's just that- oh, i know every family is different, but even during our worst fights my sisters && i would check on the other... " a shrug, brows knitted. if anything, luci worried for his spirits, how he may feel about a sister who did not check in on him herself, but he seemed... fine, oddly fine, too fine. " she said something about squabbling over desert, but it felt a little farfetched to me. i apologize, romeo, i should not stick my nose where it does not belong... it just- it was all so odd, she seemed surprised about- about something, i guess about you. i told you that you were a hero out there. it certainly seemed like she was... feuding with you. " a pause. she sighed, feeling worse. " sisters are complicated. " came her final statement, delivered gently, with compassion.
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aleksei lets out an exasperated sound when she reveals she hasn't seen bayun, & he's about to get on his way to continue looking when she starts asking questions. he blinks, a bit startled at the prospect that she would want to help him look, & he clears his throat, wringing his hands with worry. " he's a baby, " he says quietly, holding his hands apart to show her about how big bayun is, from his own memory. " about this big... he's only a few months old. h-he's got green eyes. are you sure you haven't seen him? "
𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑 pet Bunny, and he sometimes used to escape leaving her devasted, but she always manages to find it, even if it goes days missing like some of her past bunnies. Lately, her Bunny wasn't escaping anywhere, not when its owner was around almost all day in 'home'. It was a good time for a little stroll, away from the castle. In the middle of her way, she saw Aleksei, although he looked familiar, after trying to think hard… He reminds her a little of Nikolai, just a little resemblance in his features. ❛ Hiii… ❜ She greeted him with a soft smile, but a frown quickly drawing on her face, for being worried about this guy. ❛ No, I haven't! ❜ She understood to fear he may feel because that's how she feels about Bunny. ❛ I'll help you! He's small like a baby or teen cat? What are your cat's eye colors? ❜ The more she knows about the description of this cat, the easier would be to help him to find the cat.
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