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#childhood friends trope) > artem

calqlate · 2 years

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what your favourite nxx boy says about you

cw/tw: includes cn server spoilers

view m.list!

— artem wing

there are two types of artem stans: 1) you're into the soft flustered blushy boy trope (soft dom vibes!!), or 2) you're into the rough manhandling dom. (or there's a chance you like both tropes.) there's two ends to this spectrum.

like this man, 99.9% of you guys are relationship virgins and have never dated someone before. you would rather have a heart attack and get run over by a truck than simp over anyone who isn't a 2d character.

you guys have the worst procrastination issues and enjoy rolling up to your exam with 3 hours of sleep and 5 cans of red bull in tow

everyone thinks you're so pure and all but omg you're kidding no one... babe you can't lie to me but you definitely screamed when you saw artem's 整装待发 mr (yk the one with him and that big booty of his) and his 2nd bday ssr. like what are your eyes looking at, his eyes are on his face babe—

— vyn richter

material girls. there. i said it.

you guys are colourblind and will happily fall into dr richter's psychology traps without hesitation. who's gonna stop you getting a free hug from him amirite?

vyn stans have a lot of things going on and being submissive and kinky af is up there on the list. i've seen the stuff written for and by vyn stans, it's quite... original... but when y'all saw his 2nd anniversary ssr card, it was a fun 180° experience LMAO

you're also a fellow dilf hunter like the artem stans but make it ✨bougie✨. you're definitely into rich rich guys.

— luke pearce

i respect you for simping for a guy who has 3 years left to live

you're into the childhood friends-to-lovers trope and I AGREE. I LOVE THAT TROPE.

back onto his lifespan thing, you guys bully him sm about that. y'all crack jokes about it then cry over it like... did someone give you too many shots or... but you're also begging hyv to let him live. so when y'all saw luke's backstory on his illness in chapter 9, y'all were ready to throw fists.

you guys are also oddly the biggest angst enthusiasts alive. no one else loves that more than you lot. i haven't seen a luke stan who hasn't gotten his 'looming nightmare' ssr and had a cryfest over it.

— marius von hagen

you have a jiejie/onee-chan/noona kink. you've probably never even had this kink before until marius von hagen happened.

the kinkiest freak among all the nxx boy stans. i am not joking. i've read y/n smut for all 4 boys and the marius' smuts are really... an experience lmao

the biggest marius bullies istg. y'all say things about him being annoying and egoistic but y'all do it with love. your love language is apparently bullying the love of your life affectionately.

you're loud. just loud in general. take that as you will, you guys are always talking about something or doing something attention-grabbing.

#💫—qq writes #writeblr #writing #tears of themis #artem wing #artem #zuo ran #vyn richter #vyn #mo yi #luke pearce #luke #xia yan #marius von hagen #marius #lu jinghe

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enchantedmirage · 3 months

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Tears of Themis x Enstars word vomit, GO.

(more on, what do you wanna say if that ever happens lol)

HI HELLO? This is such a surprising concept since I'm already working on another Enstars AU, but anywho!

The core of Tears of Themis is that it has FOUR love interests, which plays hand in hand with our four agencies, well if that matters since we'll focus more on the personalities.. We'll forgo the dynamics the original four have (like marius being vyn's student, vyn and artem having worked with each other before, luke being part of the group the three are also in)

Now.. speaking of those four though, it's time to draw different parallels with them and a character from Enstars. It'll take a while for me to remember what they're exactly like since it's been about two or so years since I last played it..

Okay, starting off with a guy who works in the same field as you, he is your boss basically and would fuss about you not taking care of yourself- ding ding ding, who do I draw Artem parallel to? Ibara Saegusa.

so THIS stood out "Artem's favorite movie genres are art films and war films." and??? Okay, let's roll from that.

"Put himself to an unimaginable standard" Hmm..

Just a headcanon but they probably enjoy black coffee

Also fun fact he shares a va with Nagisa

(anyway I spent like a good ten minutes scrolling his card gallery)

And then soon after, we're introduced to a childhood friend.. yeah okay.. who works a dangerous job.. mhm.. that's will lie to you for your safety... Mama? Like he wasn't completely Anzu's childhood friend but.

"When he was a child, Luke dreamed of becoming a hero, making a charming appearance in times of need and beating all the bad guys. As he grew up, though, he realized heroes aren't always charming and glamorous and are often a mess instead."

UM?? HELLO???????????? (in shock at this guesstimation)

They're both also really reliable

He shares a VA with Mao!

So then, moving onto Vyn, because my friend's favorite was Vyn and she would always talk to me about how Marius steals her pulls and like?? He's something.. is he a manipulator? Is he a yandere? I don't know but when he said "Destruction precedes creation" it reminded me of the genshin fanart with Albedo as Vyn. ... AND okay, so Albedo, right? He's voiced by Nojima Kenji and the person is DING DING DING, the parallel goes to!

"Vyn is able to face anything with ease and skill, giving those around him a sense of peace, resulting in people involuntarily opening their hearts to display their truest self before him. If one's heart has secrets, they will most definitely be discovered by him."

Natsume, natsume??? I can't think of anyone else who would have this kind of description to fit.

Vyn has a very gentle temperament, but he is not what one may imagine as a weak scholar. He is very reliable in critical moments, and with his ability to maintain a perfect disposition, any weakness he might have is unknown. <- what Natsume wishes he could be/j

Oh, and the two of them have really influential parents, go figure.

However, he is sometimes derisive of common human flaws, such as the tendency to prioritize selfish short-sighted personal gain while still rationalizing those same choices as logical and intelligent <- BAHSHAJKA they're both hypocrites

Yeah okay, so last but not the least! jsldkjfsl this is super funny because Marius shares a va with TSUMUGI, TSUMUGI AOBA!! Him and Luke were my favorites actually, oh look.. me falling for the childhood friend trope and a character with purple eyes.. ah...

"It is difficult to understand this second young master. " <- Okay, Hiyori. I'm calling it now. Rich kid that gets on people's nerves sometimes? Hmmm

Good at art, though the only person that comes to mind is Hajime.. who is the opposite of rich.

YEP HIYORI WE GOOO

So conclusion? Yeahhh, four agencies? Nope, we have two cospro and two newdi idols sjdkfjsklj --- This does make for a good idea though! Thanks for the ask :3

#asks #anonymous #tears of themis #enstars

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tartarduck · 2 years

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Hihi. Hi helloo yoghurt! >< I love ur art sm it gives me life everytime i see it on dash. I always see lukerosa as the canon ship bc i love childhood friends to lovers and it that way i can have vyn for nyself. Which luke card do you love the most btw? I hope you have a great day! ❤️

hello! aghghfjhg thank you so much for your kind words,, my online accounts exist for the sole purpose of my lukerosa agenda at this point. just a slight warning that this answer is like very long, because i couldn't stop typing, i'm sorry luke pearce is my favourite ever.

and about your point on lukerosa being the 'canon ship', i have a friend who feels the EXACT same way (she wishes to keep artem all to herself, and rosa can be with luke). i'm afraid of saying anything like this on twitter, but i'll say it here: i totally see them as the canon ship as well (i know. it's an otome game. everyone is canon. but GOD lukerosa makes my permanently single ass believe in love).

to answer your actual question now, my favourite luke card is... well yes there is one but they're all so close. i would be doing the other cards a disservice not to put them on a list so buckle up, it's time for yoghurt's messy ranking of luke pearce cards (cn spoilers ahead):

[SSR] Dark Ripple

hahaha. if there is one thing you need to know about me, it's that i am down horrendous for the raven persona luke puts on during missions. but this card does so much more than that, and without going into specific spoilers I'll just say this: luke pearce in a suit, ROSA in that dress, with angst and fluff sprinkled in evenly, and the cutest phone call to ever exist. i would say that this card is a must-have for all luke simps.

2. [SSR] Threads of Time

okay this one might be recency bias but GOD peanut backstory had me sobbing into my blankets. this one is from luke's second sweet chapter, and please, please just observe the sweet and tender gaze luke has in this illustration. all in all, it's a very sweet card that touches on their high school days, which i enjoyed very very much since luke does embody the childhood friend trope.

3. honorable mentions:

both of his anniversary cards of course (i actually prefer the first anniv's story, but haha luke in a suit in that 2nd anniv ssr makes up for it)

the qixi (summer breeze) SSR that made me bawl in bed at 12am

hoyoland luke (dreams of childhood) because the card illustrations really just. brought out the sunshine in him so so much

the christmas SR from last year, because luke trying (and failing) to hide things from rosa will never stop being funny to me

rrg, because xia xia, and also rosa confronting luke about his job (mmm angst), and ALSO there was only one bed

#ask #IM SORRY IT TURNED OUT TO BE THIS LONG

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samsspambox · 1 year

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Hiii im curious about what you think about marius x artem?

hi hi nonnie!

i'm pretty okay with that ship, i guess? i'm pretty okay with almost all ships regarding the main cast! im much more partial to the NXX polycule tho (bc they have so much love for each other aAAAAAAA), but my main main fave is artem/rosa. i absolutely love those fuckers.

it's like artem/rosa -> nxx polycule -> everything else in terms of romance.

romantically, i got nothing for u nonnie, i'm more of a found family type of person. do i think it would be a fun dynamic to explore? yes absolutely bc you got someone like marius who is so suave but also has his dorky moments and artem 'i would like to read a book about it first' wing who in the end wings it (ha!) and just wholly gives himself to the person he's interested in. like, that's a really cute ship right there lmao

tho if we talk about marius & artem in a platonic sense? fUCK THATS MY SHIT! (can you tell my favorite tropes are found family and slow burns)

maybe it's because of artem's role as mom friend and marius' as baby of the group, but i think a brotherly bond between them would be so good both for their development and also angst. for marius, he gets an older brother but it gets angst in the sense that artem would be 'replacing' giann. for artem it would be not being able to step out of giann's shadow.

or think about the trust they could have with each other, the bonding they would do bc they both had lonely childhoods. marius' childhood was lonely out of protection, artem's was because of people ditching him for their jobs.

like just imagine both of them at an arcade? they didn't go often and know how things work in theory, but they're just fumbling about and having fun and AGGHHH LOVE IS HELD IN THE MARIUS & ARTEM FRIENDSHIP

but, uh, yeah! that's what i think about marius x artem. it's a good ship and i like it!! i just find myself liking the found family version more (as with most things tbh lol)

thanks for stopping by nonnie!

#if you wanna rec fics go right on ahead!#nonnie asks #sam answers #anon asks #marius/artem #marius von hagen #lu jinghe #artem wing #zuo ran #tears of themis #listen i'll read any ship but i just like found family more #or where there isn't a focus on romance?#i know it's a romance game leave me alone but #i just wanna watch them live their lives like sims LMAO

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zero-braincells-left · 2 years

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still tot shit

there are 2 braincells bouncing around my head any they’re both thinking of this game so here are my thoughts on stuff

btw, I’m on ep. 4 of the main story. stuck on 4-14. help.

ok now the main characters

marius: idk, I don’t have a lot to say regarding him. stereotypical rich boy with more personality that meets the eye. but his romantic story thing is pretty good so far ig

artem: nothing to say. don’t know him much, don’t care for him much

luke: I’m a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, lemme tell you that. he’s so nice and caring and in the romantic timeline thing him and the player fight a lil and it’s just like,,, a real relationship- also just Luke <3

VYN

i love him <3

he is pretty jealous but yknow what I don’t minddd

also the way he talks?? his vocabulary ig is so different from everyone else and I kinda love it???

also also I’ve always been really interested in psychology and wanna study it once I get a bit older.. it’s just really interesting and

anyways did I mention that I love vyn??

#vyn richter #vyn <3 #luke pearce #luke <3 #tot #tears of themis #i love vynnnnnn #vyn ritcher my beloved <3

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chuluoyi · 6 months

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Same.... I've never spent a single cent on games, so I only can grind.. And I'm failing badly... I've grinded like 1000 s-chips in 3 days and I still need 200+ before I can do a 10-pull... YEA they've come so far... Lukerosa is so the best ship in my opinion! I love Vyn and Rosa dynamics too... Like I didn't like Vyn at the start cause he's so sussy (Vyn girlies don't come after me please) but after seeing him and Rosa rely on each other so much I feel like Marius's and Artem's relationships with Rosa are just pretty normal (Again this is my opinion so don't come after me please 😭😭)

It's about $8 for me... And woahwoahh again?! Are you like in Japan rn? And I would advise you to save your money... BUT if you don't get a Gojo coaster then spend away! Anything for the husbands 💖

YEA like I had no idea... I thought people disliked Suguru so I went into Animate all happy and shit but I guess I was wrong... Cause where I'm from everyone hates Suguru I'm just that one crazy fangirl AHHAH- And I share your sentiments... I think I just dislike that group of Kenjaku homies... I'm not wrong tho??!? Volcano man has ONE eye and is BLUE SKINNED but he gets all that the girlies desire 🥲🥲

HUH VENTI TOO 😭😭😭 Okay I probably would've done that too if I HAD Venti... But I lost 50/50 to Qiqi in all of his banners... But FR Genshin is so... Money leeching.... I have so many friends who want to quit but can't cause they already spent so much...

AHAHAHAH RIGHT WRIO SUPREMACYYY!! And it's always the men ahhahah!! I started cause of Diluc and Ayato omg... I only stayed till Sumeru cause of Alhaitham.... yes, I agree... These men are probably too... too holy? Throughout Heaven and the Earth, they are the honoured ones... 🥲🥲

hehehe it's really nothing!! 😍😍

And 'once' ..? You sure about that babe...

Also NO I have not seen the newest ep... I stopped for like 4 weeks cause I knew Nanami's end was coming... But guess what I was spoiled on Instagram anyway... Nobara is so precious like tf she's just 16 Mahito leave her tf alone!! Yuji too! Like he already killed Nanami in front of him... And he had to bring Nobara there too... He's despicable like please stop 😭😭😭 Leave our babies alone!

P.s. Chu I really enjoy talking with you omg like you're probably the only writer on Tumblr that I've interacted so much with!! Love you!!!

-🪩

HOW did you grind 1000 s chips in three days?!😭 disco anon i barely could grind 100 daily so how sskskks you must teach me😩

actually i agree with you!!🥹 in my personal opinion, it’s their chemistry due to the childhood friends trope that makes things already intimate between the two of them. ahh, i’m still not used to vyn i’m sorry🥲 partially bcs of the sus part HAHAHA

for me it’s luke - marius - artem - vyn 🥹 but i’m not saying vyn is bad! i actually love his birthday cards and the main story in the cruise ship! it’s just i’m not used to his calm persona HAHAHA marius is a big baby so he is dear to me and artem is the epitome of man every mother wants for their daughter so i go for him to delude myself into having the perfect man☺️

omg why?! suguru is so precious he didn’t deserve the ptsd imposed by the jujutsu world *sigh* VOLCANO MAN PLSSS😭😭😭😭 it’s so funny ahahahhaha

venti is not as useful ever since kazuha is released imo🥲 it’s just his burst skill is fun and you can fly. tbh i pulled for him just because he’s cute and anyway why do we pull for genshin men at all? not bcs of their usefulness, certainly. it’s just they’re so easy in our eyes😩😩🫶🏻

i agree!!🤧 like well everything is pricey, and the rate off possibility is just too much sometimes🥹

too holy lmao🥹🥹🥹 i think i’m logging in genshin again just to see my luck and primo… i honestly forget if i still have any left or not…

…sure. i’m totally sure. pls pray for me to be sure 💀

HAAHHHA there are many of my friends who haven’t even started the 2nd season at all bcs they already know what’s coming😭 but yes it’s so painful like nothing good comes in this season *sigh*

hshshsjjs i enjoy talking to you too disco anon!!🥹🫶🏻 thank you for stopping by omg i’m always happy to answer asks and i’m glad i’ve found kind friends in this hellsite because tbh i’m a bit spooked by several discourses i’ve seen in this fandom🥲 like pls i don’t ever want to be involved in any of that😭

love you too!!!✨

#you’re so sweet i’m so giddy sjsjsjjs #—chu’s mailbox 📬#💌: 🪩

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kzuha · 3 years

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if you play tears of themis and don’t like luke i don’t trust you (๑•ૅㅁ•๑) have you met him?? he’s a smart detective man who’s also in love w you how could you not like him?? scandalous

#maia.uncovered #.tears of themis #i love him sm #it’s luke <3 then artem then marius then vyn #the sad thing is i have like #10 vyn cards #it’s truly upsetting #just give me my baby luke #that’s all i want #YES I LOVE THE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE SO WHAT #SUE MEEEE #sike you can’t i’m a super good attorney #tears of themis

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delvalentine · 3 years

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i need a tears of themis match up blog to confirm whether or not artem or luke would be better for me because i just lie in bed like damn. if i was isekaid into stellis right now, would ANY of them want me 💀

#not in a self-deprecating way ofc #i just dont kNOW #artem is quiet and intellectual #luke is so in love with his image of his childhood friend #my personality trope is very specific and does not fit rosa at all pfffft

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marisakage · 3 years

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Home is where the Heart is

One thing that I give big props to Mihoyo is the brilliant way they incorporate tropes. They introduce the characters as one-dimensional then expand them. Thanks to how realistic their portrayals are, they seem human. They all come from different upbringings and circumstances. These two elements shape the characters to become relatable and engaging.

Luke is an example of this case because he is such a trope-y character. He embodies the childhood friend trope super well.

At first glance, some people wouldn't bat an eye on him, writing him off as a boring character. Given that Luke is the childhood friend, his arc should be very predictable. But little did they know that we are not dealing with a typical otome game.

With that said, my essay will delve into why I adore Luke and Rosa's dynamic. I am 100% biased towards this ship, and I feel so strongly about them.

SPOILER DISCLAIMER since I will talk about some of Luke's unreleased cards!

Luke is Rosa's childhood friend, but his arc is so entangled with the main story route. The NXX drug that the team is currently investigating may or may not be behind the death of his parents as well as his shrouded background. He's the person who's directly involved with the problem that the NXX members are dealing with at hand. Marius is investigating because of his missing brother Giann. Artem is doing whatever he can to uncover the truth behind his mentor's disappearance. And Vyn is just there unless he's got some reason that's yet to be revealed.

That leaves Luke as the person who is indeed directly involved with the issue itself. The drug has greatly affected Luke, reducing his lifespan to just three years.

This ordeal puts Luke in an agonizing and harsh situation as he's been struggling with an inner conflict ever since. His conflict being Rosa.

He woke up in the hospital room by the sheer will of living (Rosa indirectly saved him), surrounded by his fellow mates who turned out to be dead.

Luke's “I will become the God of Death” line which took place in his Lost Gold route conveys a whole new meaning.

Imagine waking up and being the only survivor in a room full of deceased people who once were your teammates. Luke must have felt extreme guilt. He would definitely think he robbed them of their lives hence the God of Death title. It also does not help that he is often associated with Crows -a symbol of death in many cultures.

All this time, he regarded himself as such -a being who is undeserving of living, much less next to his crush. It is the reason why he took a while to appear in front of Rosa. His guilt and self-loathing are what disabled him from indulging in his time with her. If he could disappear, he would easily do it. And he did it once in his Shape of You card; when he prayed to the Land God to take him away from Rosa and to make him disappear from her life.

Luke reappeared again because he had unfinished matters to deal with, a.k.a the mystery behind the drug and his parents' background. He wants to use his remaining time to pursue the truth and look after Rosa before he is gone.

His conflict comes into play when he realizes that the drug effects are irreversible and that his impending death is coming nigh. He was at a loss when it came to Rosa.

Must he be selfish and choose to stay by her side until his time is up?

Or must he disappear from her sight so she doesn't get hurt?

Luke was torn between what he wanted to do and what he needed to do, and he came to these two paths without confronting Rosa about them. He was in a complete dilemma.

He shouldered all of this weight on his own for a long time. He eventually reappeared again in front of Rosa, much to his dismay. The moment he saw her, his resolve wavered. With each passing second, his longing to stay with her grew bigger.

His tendency to overthink and to be overly overprotective stems from the conflict with which he is struggling. He doesn't wish for anything bad to happen to Rosa. Because if that were the case, he would hate himself for it. Some people think that Luke is treating Rosa as an inferior, a weakling. Someone incapable of holding her grounds. But that is wrong.

These people fail to see the helplessness of this guy. He feels worthless, hopeless, pessimistic, and very undeserving of being near Rosa. But he also feels responsible for Rosa's protection despite only being granted a short amount of time.

Nothing about this screams inferiority/superiority complex. It's Luke's helplessness that's screaming and ripping him apart.

The fact that he won't be by her side in three years. The fact that he has to bid her farewell in three years. The fact that he has to entrust her to some other guy in three years. The fact that he is unable to support her in three years. Knowing all of this shatters his heart. It's gut-wrenching.

Imagine the pain he felt this whole time. Luke missed out on eight precious years that could have been spent with Rosa. And to make matters worse, he now has a ticking timer above his head reminding him of the fragility of his life and the cruelty of losing everything before his eyes. This whole issue not only has affected him but also Rosa. She is a direct factor in this.

All of Luke's cards; regardless of how the timeline works; are pretty much tied. Each card focuses on Luke's character as well as his relationship with Rosa.

In Timely Rescue, we get to witness the overbearing nature of Luke's overprotectiveness and how it started to get on Rosa's nerves.

In Among the Great Blue, Luke reminisced about his past with Rosa and her parents. He has been raised as if he were a member of the family. Luke felt both blessed and grateful in that regard. Because of that, he thinks that as long as he is a part of Rosa's life; he mustn't care about where he stands. Because of his condition, Luke accepted that crossing the boundaries with her is futile. He would rather keep their friendship until his days are up. What's poignant about this is that Luke made it clear that he gave up. He came to terms with his reality before long which is utterly sad and devastating.

On top of that, moon jellyfish only live up to three years which parallels his lifespan. The expression Luke had when he talked about them was so heart-wrenching.

"Life is short, and one should enjoy every second of it" hits right in the feels considering Luke's situation. The line is also a bit ironic because he did not abide by it as shown in his Iridescent Heartbeat card (Which I will talk about in a bit.)

What's also bitter about Among the Great Blue is that Luke is in so much pain; both physical and emotional. Yet, he tries to hide it all through lying. Luke is an expert at concealing his pain. He would go out of his way to bury everything that might expose his situation as shown in Moment of Danger and his personal story.

Luke is such an enigmatic person. There is still so much that we don't know about which serves as an interesting juxtaposition of being the character we're supposed to know best, but we also know so little about.

His Shape of You card revealed a little more about Luke's past and how much he struggled to stay with Rosa.

He got shunned by her relatives for always being around her. He is an orphan, and the only people he interacted with are Rosa and her parents, so it's only natural to be attached to them. They were his only family. But others didn't take that too well and started dissing him.

That pushed Luke to pray to the Land God. He prayed to disappear from the face of the earth and everyone's memories if it would make Rosa feel better. No child deserves to go through that.

Fortunately, Rosa reached out to him and rescued him from falling too deep into the pits of darkness.

That card not only touched on Luke's past but also showcased a new side of Rosa.

When Luke ran off somewhere to catch the thief, Rosa felt helpless and desperate to find him. She had the feeling that she might lose Luke once again. Never to be seen. Never to be found.

Rosa's position in this card is understandable because she went through this twice. She almost lost him the first time when they were kids. This accident made her dread going to any festivities.

And the second time is when Luke unofficially left her side and went to the Capital upon turning 16 years old. He didn't contact her as much for eight years. You can only imagine the melancholy that she felt. She even refused to visit Prague simply because it doesn't feel the same without Luke.

Shape of You managed to give yet another layer to Rosa. Rosa isn't just your typical, strong, and level-headed protagonist.

She went through a lot and has endured so much by herself without anyone's support. (personal story ch2)

However, Rosa is an emotional person who has doubts and fears. She has problems and conflicts. Rosa is almost always concerned for Luke.

The moment he is away, she would immediately start panicking.

Because if she were to let go of him this time, what would happen to him? What would happen to her?

She is just as dependent on him as much as he is on her. The feeling is mutual. Luke and Rosa cannot be away from one another because they have been inseparable for so long.

“Rather than wanting to be by her side forever, I hope to protect her forever. No matter if I am still here, no matter in what form.” No words can describe just how heart-breaking this line is.

Radiant Sunlight was about re-creating memories that both Rosa and Luke have missed. For example, the graduation day that Luke could not attend. The card proves that it is not too late to make new memories together. It offers a positive perspective in contrast to Luke's pessimistic one.

Inner Sanctum was a cute love story of an elderly couple. The card showcases how the couple never gave up on one another.

No matter how much time has passed and how much their health has declined, the couple will always treasure each other's presence. Their love for one another grew stronger despite the flow of time. Love is a boundless feeling as it transcends time.

Inner Sanctum conveys a positive message: Even if you've hit rock bottom and you feel like there's no way out, someone is waiting for you at the end of the tunnel. Luke has been in a hopeless situation for the longest time, but someone is out there for him. Someone is waiting for him with open arms to hold him. All he has to do is to reach out for the light.

The lyrics of the song that Luke hummed are heartfelt yet sad.

“When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up

In the morning when the day is new?”

Not only do they describe Luke's feelings, but they also hint at the shackles holding him back. But his response to the lyrics was very hopeful.

“I believe that there are no ifs between the two of us. I will make it all come true.”

Perfect Partner had Luke and Rosa work on a case that had a bittersweet conclusion. Timing often plays a role in relationship success. Something that could have easily been a miss had Luke and Rosa not met after eight years. The conflict of the case was due to miscommunication. Both parties could not clear the misunderstanding because they kept missing each other. I can't help but think that it could have been a possible outcome for Luke and Rosa had they not met in time.

In Iridescent Heartbeat, the relationship between them took a step forward, and it developed even further. Everything that happened in that card occurred for a reason.

Luke's pessimism and overprotectiveness took a turn for the worse, almost ruining the whole date. Rosa's patience ran super thin as there's a limit to everything. And clearly, Luke has crossed the line with how overprotective he has gotten.

Time is of the essence, yet Luke wastes it by brooding over the what-ifs:

"Should I take the safest shortcut so that Rosa doesn't get hurt?" "Sticking to this activity is better than doing bungee jumping cuz we might run into accidents."

Luke's thoughts have clouded his reasoning. He believes that counting every step he takes to ensure Rosa's safety is the right thing. But by doing so, their date has quickly turned into a sour one. Luke's behavior makes sense as mentioned before.

But this is where Rosa comes into play. She grew tired and sick of his tendency to overthink things since Timely Rescue. She is not going to stand by and watch the guy decays as he ponders over every single thing that concerns her. That is just a waste of precious time.

Luke's going the extra mile to guarantee her safety at the expense of his fun and her fun.

If Luke is not having fun, then what is the point of the date?

If he can't even do whatever he wants to do, then what is the point?

Life is too short to be wasted on trivial matters such as "possible accidents". Accidents are bound to happen.

Humans are prone to get injured, to trip over, to get hurt. We don't have plot armor, and we are definitely not bulletproof. If things happen, then let them happen. Let them become a part of their experience, part of their memories. So that someday, they can look back at that time and laugh at how silly they were. That is why I find his line in Among the Great Blue quite ironic. He is not sticking to it.

The whole interaction between them proves that Rosa is not afraid to step up and speak her mind. She refuses to stay idle when things are going wrong. She definitely doesn't stand looking at Luke not enjoying himself because his happiness is her happiness.

The story was beautifully connected to Timely Rescue and other cards. It displayed a realistic quarrel between two people who had clashing views.

Luke still hasn't decided to confide in her about his condition yet, and he is still very hesitant whether he should be with her or not.

Rosa was kept in the dark the entire time. Despite that, she could tell that something was off with him.

They resolved the issue through communication which is a primordial element in any couple's road to happiness. Without it, you and your significant other won't last at all.

Rosa is an honest person, and Luke's overprotective trait bothered her so much because he has crossed the line several times. Not only was he restricting Rosa's freedom but also his freedom.

The whole ordeal gave huge character development to Rosa. She looks out for Luke and is greatly concerned over him as well. Luke is not the only person who is busy thinking about her. Rosa also does think about him, and always has been.

The card portrayed a healthy relationship that runs into issues and solves them through communicating.

Luke listening to her and feeling extremely blessed to be by her side was the cherry on top. He understood her, apologized to her, and he promised he won't cross the line again. Her reassuring words held some weight because you only live once. Why would anyone waste their time instead of enjoying themselves?

To Luke, it hits him harder because it involves time which is something intangible and not everlasting. He absolutely shouldn't waste it, especially in his case. He should spend every single minute of his life doing the things he likes, hanging out with the people he loves, and making new and timeless memories with them.

Rosa ended up teaching him a lesson about life and how valuable it is. The way she snapped at him as she ran out of patience and as her frustrations grew all the more obvious has only rendered her as more than a third-dimensional character. Rosa is too real. Too realistic. She has the most natural and wholesome interactions with Luke, and that says a lot about their relationship.

Moreover, his Lost Gold route expanded his character even further. We get to witness his Raven side first-hand. A side that he is ashamed of showing.

But because of the whole ordeal in Timely Rescue, he decided not to cross the line. He made up his mind and showed her the side that he's been afraid to reveal all this time. A side that developed over those eight years. Rosa witnessed it, and her reaction to it was genuine as well as sweet. She immediately figured out how ashamed he was. And she also understood him and his predicament. Because of his job, he has to be harsh to his suspects. And as Rosa stated, she prefers Luke to be ruthless to protect himself rather than get hurt because of his kindness. Rosa has embraced all of Luke's sides and accepted him the way he is.

Granted, Luke said: "I will become the person that you like", but Rosa doesn't want that. Rosa wants Luke. The genuine person with all of his flaws and all of his strengths.

His response to what she said was so sweet. His embrace and his Thank You were so emotional and meaningful. Luke was afraid he might disappoint her with how much he changed. So, her reassuring words were such a relief to him. Nothing beats being wholeheartedly accepted by your significant other.

Rosa has always felt that the person in front of her is no longer familiar. She thought she always knew him. But the truth is she did not. Rosa has been feeling this way since day one of their reunion. And she openly expressed that in several cards like Alluring Gaze, Xmas Card, Among the Great Blue, to name a few.

Despite her lingering doubts, Rosa still accepts the person who is standing in front of her. Luke might have changed, but Rosa is willing to hold onto him and never let go. She is ready to embrace that unfamiliar figure of his because she loves him.

Her resolve to see past the distance that separated them had never faltered. That is because Luke means much more than that.

Xmas Card revealed that Luke has been hiding from Rosa for a while. It personally pains me to see him run away from her. This card adds more to how much he struggled with himself. Luke wanted to meet Rosa as soon as he came back. He wanted to share all the experiences and the stories that he had in the past eight years. He wanted to confide in her about everything. But, Luke was unable to do so. On top of his illness, he is ashamed to talk about his work as an agent. God only knows what kind of misdeeds he did. It saddens me to know that Luke has been through so much for the past eight years, unbeknownst to Rosa. He has been in many perilous situations. He got so wounded that he does not need an anesthetic to treat himself. Luke grew numb to the pain which is messed up. He got tormented for the longest time. (personal story ch3 and 4)

Luke has been exposed to danger at a young age which explains why he hates seeing Rosa go through the same path.

That also explains why he was so against the idea of her joining the NXX team in the main story.

In RRG, Luke and Rosa's relationship took a shift and started to progress. Rosa felt bummed out because she thought she knew Luke best but realized that those eight years made him seem foreign to her. Her desire to know all of him and get close to him has been made clear in that card. Rosa seriously started looking at Luke. Her feelings slowly and steadily started surfacing and taking shape.

The whole card was incredible. From us finding out more about Raven to them acting like parents (to Xia Xia) to Rosa getting all emotional over Xia Xia's departure. Rosa's nightmare also proves that she refuses to be apart from Luke and that she is determined to hold onto him because he might slip from her at any moment. A sentiment that she has expressed since Shape of You. Rosa also figured that Luke has been hiding from her for so long, fearing he might bring her trouble. She got upset because she always wanted to be by his side no matter what.

Despite the dangers that Luke may face because of his work, Rosa wants to support him however she can. She is worried about him, and she hates that his life is always at stake, but she has decided not to get in the way of his dreams. Instead, she would bear the brunt with him. They will both go through ups and downs together, hand in hand.

The promise that they made is very precious because it shows just how much they care for each other.

"I promise I will do my best to not compromise myself.

In every minute and every second, I will choose the way that makes me happiest to live.

In every minute and every second, I will remind myself to avidly pursue everything I yearn for.

I definitely will not make this person in front of me, who supports me, feel unhappy or not blessed."

This promise is important because Luke always puts others above himself, and Rosa had enough of that. She wants him to be happy and to think of himself before others.

I would like to take a moment to talk about Luke's design. He is often seen with many gadgets. One of them is a camera.

His camera helps in capturing the moments, turning them into memories that transcend time itself. Luke is still coping with how short his lifespan is. Hence he wishes to savor the beauty of this world by saving every moment in his camera. Because surely, those moments will outlive him, never to be forgotten.

I like how Luke is the owner of an antique shop. An antique shop consists of items that are desirable because of their age, beauty, rarity, and personal emotional connection. These items represent a previous era or period in human history.

Luke as an antique shopkeeper is just so fitting because it feels like he is gathering all sorts of stories and memories connected with each object in his tiny little space to preserve them. After all, they will persevere against the flow of time. An ability that Luke would have liked to possess to put an end to his misery.

Luke seems to be associated with crows which are a symbol of death. But that symbol represents more than that.

Rosa often thinks of Luke as a free-spirited person, unshackled by any constraints. She firmly believes that he deserves to be free like the birds.

"I hoped that I could also protect Luke, this eagle flying high with his wings spread, and his smile that was as warm as sunshine."

Her impression of Luke has always been that of an eagle spreading his wings in the sky. He represents freedom to her. Seeing Luke restrained by his shackles hurts Rosa to no end. Luke should not be in a cage. Luke should be flying high in the sky. That is where he belongs.

Rosa wants to protect that within her power because he deserves to be happy.

Not only has it been mentioned in the Electrifying Night card but also SoTT.

In SoTT, Luke worships the birds because they soar high in the blue sky. They are the symbol of freedom. But in this story, the roles are reversed. Rosa is trapped in a cage (society conventions) while Luke reaches out to release her. Luke is willing to give up on his freedom so that Rosa can live the way she always wanted to.

“I pray that you will continue to live bravely onwards, as you had described.”

Luke would do anything to see Rosa be happy, even at the cost of his freedom. That is the weight of his sacrifice.

On an unrelated note, Luke's design in SoTT is very self-contradictory and interesting:

His mask is that of Anubis; the God of Death, whereas his necklace is that of Ankh; the symbol of eternal life.

Going by that analogy, the necklace that was given to him by Rosa represents life. Despite being on the verge of death, Luke managed to live thanks to her.

Honorary Mention:

Looming Nightmare is such a lamentable story. But looking past that, there's a lot of foreshadowing regarding Luke and Rosa's relationship.

The ruby and the sword made a cameo in this card.

Ruby symbolizes romantic love. It brings happiness and passion. It is said to inspire devotion and faithfulness within a romantic relationship.

This symbolism depicts Luke's overflowing feelings towards Rosa.

Because the ruby's hue is close to the color of blood, which carries oxygen to all parts of the body, the gemstone also represents vitality and vigor.

As for the sword, it symbolizes power, protection, authority, strength, and courage; metaphysically, it represents discrimination and the penetrating power of the intellect.

It is a symbol of knighthood and chivalry which is very fitting for Luke.

“Passion is the sword of love that pierces through the wall of fears that hold us back.” Lewis Howes

Based on the game's poster art, Luke might also become Rosa's weapon when her ideals will be put to the test.

This card proves yet again just how much both of them are willing to sacrifice for one another.

Granted, it is romantic but it is just as foreboding. Because of his desire to meet Rosa and be with her, Luke was easily deceived by the witch. In this case, not only did Love blind him but also drove him to his death (and ultimately Rosa's death). A tragic ending.

On a side note, we get to see a very wholesome moment between them at the end of the card.

They always find comfort in each other's company and it's simply heart-warming.

I just love how close and intimate they are even before they started dating.

Their relationship is dynamic since both parties are willing to sacrifice so much to ensure the other is happy. Their love for each other is very pure, selfless, and unconditional. Not only that, but they are also characters with so much depth to analyze. Rosa and Luke are such layered individuals, and it is such a treat. There's more to these characters than what meets the eye (especially Luke)

Luke's personal story focused on the entire three-year issue. Episodes 1 and 2 were angsty enough. But Rosa has sprinkled some of her optimism which also plays as foreshadowing to the anniversary card.

The story behind the escape room puzzle is a straight nod to Luke's whole conflict.

Sphinx/Aaron purposefully planned this so that Luke would have enough balls to confess everything that he has covered from her.

Rosa's answer regarding the escape room's story is an indirect answer to Luke's confession. She insisted that even though your lover might someday disappear, the time spent with them is far more valuable than being apart from them.

Their entire existence brings them joy. So why would anyone be away from their source of happiness?

Luke took it personally because he resonated with the whole story.

At that point, Rosa does not know a thing about his illness, yet her answer hits Luke's very core and being.

The anniversary card was the culmination of several events throughout their story.

Luke's confession happened because reality has slapped him right in the face. He always thought of his short lifespan, but he never considered the possibility of losing Rosa before his eyes.

Rosa is selfless, almost to a fault. Episodes 3 and 4 displayed how she would readily put others above herself. She would easily risk her life for someone else. The incident that almost scarred her gave Luke the last push to finally come clean and confess everything.

For the first time, he revealed everything that he buried for years. Rosa's reply was just as emotional and just as groundbreaking. Everything; from their confrontation to them breaking down into tears to the starry sky in the background turning their childhood place (their old house) all the more intimate to their longing and desire burning in their eyes to them not even needing to utter another word because they yearn to fill each other with warmth; was perfection. The build-up was impeccable. I was a sobbing mess by the end of it.

The music box (Luke's gift) that emanates a rainbow is a throwback to the double rainbows that they saw in Iridescent Heartbeat.

Legend has it that if you keep following a rainbow, you will find a buried treasure underneath it. And as corny as his line may sound, Luke indeed found his treasure (Rosa) a long time ago. It's a whole circle back to the key in his necklace. A gift that was given by Rosa when they were kids.

The music that Luke has picked had so much significance. And the decision behind it was both melancholic and symbolic. His explanation is enough to let us know that Luke went through hell and back for Rosa. Luke was in emotional turmoil the entire time, suffering by himself. But not anymore. Because Rosa's answer gave him hope. It gave him a reason to keep pushing forward.

When Luke talks about the future, he either uses ambiguous terms like always and forever or becomes pessimistic, knowing he only has three years left.

But it all changed when they started dating. Luke wants to make up for the eight years that he and Rosa have missed out. It neither sounds like an intangible dream nor a regretful mourn. Luke now has more belief in the future and is slowly overcoming his insecurities as they fall in love.

His concept of forever is no longer limited to the three years written in health reports. That concept became the longest time he spends with Rosa. And it's just overflowing with hope compared to how incurable he thought he was.

"So, I’ve decided. If the road ahead is fated to be covered in thorns, then I will grow with you by your side, no matter what comes at us, traversing this bumpy road fearlessly."

Luke's arc is a whole self-love journey. It is about finding yourself amidst all the darkness and hopelessness. It is about being hopeful in the face of despair. It is about living tomorrow to the fullest as if your life depended on it. It is about appreciating and treasuring those who have always supported you. Be it family, friends, or your significant other. It is about cherishing the time you spend with your loved ones. It is about being selfless and chasing after your happiness no matter what the hurdle is.

Luke's arc is a journey that taught him and Rosa many life lessons. They both grew together, went through many hardships, and are maturing together. They are learning to compromise and to adjust to one another. And that makes their bond even more beloved.

Luke no longer needs to shoulder all of the burdens by himself because now he has someone else's shoulder to lean on. Rosa has Luke's shoulder to lean on as well.

It's a journey of self-growth and self-love for both of them.

Rosa and Luke are more than just childhood friends. They are more than just a couple. They are soulmates.

Two individuals who got each other's backs no matter what life throws at them. Their bond is so precious, so dear.

What Luke and Rosa have is special. And watching them grow together is such a sight.

People believe that they are canon. But even if they are not, I am convinced that they will always find each other because they are soulmates.

Credits: @tiramisiyu for the amazing translations!

#tears of themis #luke pearce #xia yan #rosa qiangwei #marius von hagen #vyn richter #artem wing #lu jinghe #otome game #otp #i love this ship so much #ramblings #mihoyo #spoilers

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thenovelartist · 2 years

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The Fine Line of Loving You - Chapter 1

In a Tears of Themis writing discord I'm in, we're holding "Luke Week": a week of seven prompts leading up to Luke's Birthday.

So, here's Day 1: Longing

Enjoy ;)

Next >

...

The phrase “A PI and a Lawyer were best friends” sounds like the beginning of a joke. Normally, it’s not, but there are certainly times they get into messes that might as well be.

“Okay, remind me again why I agreed to be your fake date tonight?” Rosa asked.

“Is that a honest question or a hypothetical one because you regret saying yes?”

Rosa paused, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror as her lipstick tugged at her bottom lip. A lip Luke really wanted to kiss, if he was honest, but that was a trope for another time.

Breaking from her thought, she smoothly finished applying the ruby red before clicking the cap back on the silver stick. “Both?”

“You don’t have to come.”

“You say after you nearly begged me for my help.”

“I can figure out—”

“Luke.” Rosa leveled him with a look that caused a hardened and unshakeable PI to tremble in his fancy dress shoes. “You asked for my help; too late to turn back now.”

He hung his head. More like he made an offhand comment about needing help and she forced him to agree when she volunteered. No matter how old they got, it seemed nothing had changed since their childhood. “Fine. Just be careful.”

“I have you with me,” she said, throwing him a bright smile that was going to be the death of him one of these days. “I’ll be fine. Now, make-up is done, I got to go change.”

“’Kay,” he commented offhandedly as he stepped out of her bathroom to give her privacy. He then headed into the kitchen, where his suit jacket was still hanging on the back of a chair. He plopped down in the chair, pulling out his phone to shoot off a few messages dictating their approximate leaving time. They still had plenty of time before he and Rosa were required to arrive at the venue, thankfully. There was no need to rush. Furthermore, he had plenty of time to review basic safety procedures with Rosa again.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Okay,” he said, turning around in his chair. “Then let’s—w-w-what are you wearing!”

During his quest to not fall off his chair at the drop-dead gorgeous woman that emerged from the bathroom, he somehow registered the frown that marred her pretty features. “Do you not like it? Your colleague, Mr. Yishmir, brought it over and said his wife had kindly picked it out for me.”

Luke made a mental note to strangle Aaron later, but there was also a chance he wouldn’t quite remember because his brain was fried at the moment. He knew nothing about women’s clothing, so he didn’t know how to describe it other than it showed off her shoulders and back while also showing off nearly her entire leg because the skirt was cut all the way up to her hip.

And why was she wearing a thigh strap?

“Oh, this?” she asked, pointing to the strap. “It’s got a little pocket pistol on it. I’ve been practicing with Artem and just got my CCW permit, so Aaron gave me the holster.”

Had he asked that question aloud? He hadn’t realized it, but at the same point, he really wasn’t focused on a lot of things.

“Hey.”

He jumped when she leaned close, his ears now burning burning burning and his heart about to stop three years too early. “Sorry! We should go!”

“Luke.”

He stopped when she grabbed his arm, forcibly turning him back to face her. “What’s wrong? Is it the dress, does it look bad?”

How in the world could she think it looked bad when he really wanted to say it looked too good on her? There was a part of him, a part he had been struggling to not acknowledge, that wanted to tell her to change because he wanted to be the only person to ever see her in a dress like that. The woman standing here before him now felt so much different than his sweet and cute childhood bestie. She was graceful and stunning and sexy. And that combination sparked a raging fire in him. He had to be careful, or he had the feeling he was going to be a possessive, green-eyed monster tonight. Just the thought of other men seeing her like this…

No, that wasn’t fair. She wasn’t his. He didn’t get the right to tell her not to wear that dress if she wanted to.

“No,” he finally answered, looking her up and down again even though he really shouldn’t have. “It looks… really good.”

“Eye catching enough?”

He forced a smile. “Almost too much.”

She grinned. “Good. That’s the point, after all. I’m supposed to be your distraction for the evening.”

Oh, she was going to be his distraction, all right. On top of being the general distraction so he could slip away unnoticed.

He was absolutely going to kill Aaron.

“Luke,” Rosa said, her expression fallen again. “What’s wrong.”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I promise. Just… promise me you’ll stay by my side for as long as possible. And be careful otherwise?”

The smile she gave him was one he knew well, one that tugged on his heartstrings far more than he would have liked it to: equal parts sweet and loving and reassuring. “Don’t worry over me, Detective Pearce,” she spoke softly as she fixed his tie. It wasn’t tight around his neck, but he suddenly felt like he was being strangled with it the way it was hard to breathe. “You’re the one in real danger, yeah? Besides, you taught me the self-defense and observational techniques I’ll need in an emergency. But considering it’s you on this case, nothing’s gonna happen.” She then fixed his jacket, running her hands down his chest and he was sure he was going to die. The reassuring pats she placed on his shoulders barely brought him back out of it. “It’ll be okay.”

He sighed, the tension not leaving his body but him simply resigning himself to this mission. “Okay. I trust you.”

Her smile was a reward in and of itself. “Then let’s roll.”

When they headed down out of her apartment to the parking lot, Luke found their ride: a chic luxury car.

Like a gentleman, Luke opened the back door for Rosa. “After you.”

“Thanks, Luke.” She took his hand and carefully situated herself in the seat behind the driver. “Hello, Mr. Yishmir.”

“Please,” the driver dismissed with an easy grin. “Call me Aaron. We’ve been over this.”

“All right, all right,” she sighed. “If you insist.”

With her dress out of the way, Luke shut her door and rounded the car to climb in on the other side.

“You look stunning in that dress, by the way,” Aaron said right as Luke opened the door. The older man then shot Luke an easy grin. “Isn’t that right, Luke?”

It took everything he had not to glare at Aaron, who knew what Luke was thinking and shot him a hidden wink.

He was so going to kill this man. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tonight. Aaron had kindly taken time out of his busy schedule to serve as their chauffeur for the evening, which was much appreciated so they knew their car would be protected for the evening. The man Luke had been paid a pretty penny to pursue was a dangerous man, so no expense or precautions had been spared tonight. His only weak spot in his plan was that he’d gotten two of the most important people in his life involved.

Why both had volunteered when both knew that was beyond him.

“You two certain you can pull off the ‘married couple’ rouse?” Aaron teased as he drove them to the location of the event.

“We’ve been best friends since we were in diapers,” Rosa quipped back. “I’m pretty sure we can.”

“Then where’s your rings?”

Luke faltered before beginning to pat his jacket pockets.

Wordlessly, Aaron flipped a plastic baggie back towards Luke. “You gave them to me, remember?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Getcha head in the game, kid.”

“You sure you’re all right, Luke?” Rosa asked, concern lacing her expression once again.

“Yeah,” he said, feeling the ring he was actually looking for in his breast pocket and pulling it out. “I was actually looking for this.”

Rosa’s eyes widened as she looked at the ring he held. “Is that—”

“Your fake engagement ring,” he said, holding the ring out to her. “It was only the fake wedding rings I gave to Aaron.”

“Come on, kid,” Aaron chipped up from the front. “Put it on her.”

Rosa giggled, then extended her left hand. “You know, you haven’t even proposed to me. How are you supposed to be my fake husband if you haven’t even fake proposed to me?”

Part of him wanted to go die in a hole out of sheer embarrassment. He’d propose to her for real if he could. But he couldn’t, no matter how badly he wanted to. So instead, the excited pounding of his heart and all his emotions were going to have to ride the high of the only proposal he would get to preform: a fake one. “My dear Watson, would you do me the honor of being this Sherlock’s partner for the rest of our lives?”

She snorted a laugh, but it was an adorable snort. At least he thought so. “Forever and always, of course.”

He then slid the ring on her finger, a glittery quartz crystal set in sterling silver. It was not that expensive, but it didn’t look chintzy. He then slid on her wedding band before he pulled his ring from the bag.

“Hey, let me do it,” Rosa said, snatching the ring from him before grabbing his left hand. Gently, she slid the ring on, causing his heart to race. Thankfully, it was mostly dark already, so he hoped his cheeks didn’t show a blush.

“You two are sickening,” Aaron teased from up front, successfully shattering Luke’s illusion.

“No one asked you,” Luke snipped, leaning back in his own seat.

“Well, you should have,” he playfully snarked back. “After all, you want to successfully pass as a married couple, right?”

“Any pointers?” Rosa innocently asked.

“If you want to sell it, you gotta be closer. Touch each other more, yeah? Maybe throw in a longing glance or two.”

“Noted,” Rosa said, reaching over to pat Luke’s knee to prove a point. “Can do.”

And kill me in the process, Luke thought with a sigh. He was already longing too much for this woman. It might put her in danger if he actually sent her true longing looks in the night. He was determined to keep her out of trouble, after all. Although, she did tend to find it anyway more often than not.

When they arrived at the venue, Aaron pulled forward towards the doors of the overtly ritzy event hall. “Have fun, and be sure to sell it, Mr. and Mrs. Finley.”

“Will do,” Rosa said, shooting him a wink just as Luke opened the car door. Instantly, he got into the character of Charles Finley, young business associate of the host of the party. He stuck out his hand to assist his ‘wife’ from the car.

“Thanks, darling,” ‘Cherry Finley’ said, taking his hand and stepping out of the car. She subtly adjusted her dress while Luke shut the car door. From there, he offered her his arm so as to escort her into the hall.

The place was decked to the nines with glitz and glamor. It was an event for the wealthy, that was for sure. A place where connections were made and business deals arranged while seeming to the world like a carefree party. Men were all the same in their black suits and ties while women were decked in the finer things: flowing dresses in all colors while proudly bejeweled in silver, gold, and precious gemstones.

“We’re supposed to be the stand-offish pair of newlyweds, right?” Rosa whispered, leaning close with her hands on his chest.

Shooting her a smug grin, he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his chest. A terrible move on his part because it momentarily set his nerves alight, but he regained his composure soon enough. “You got that right. You think you got it?”

She chuckled lowly, giving him a downright devilish grin while sensually tapping his shoulder with her fingernails. Oh, he was in such trouble tonight. “You think you got it?”

He bent over, placing his lips right next to her ear. The way she gasped may have sent shivers down his spine. “Target at your three o’ clock.”

“I see him,” she breathily whispered back, causing heat to pool in his gut. “Approaching with host.”

With a grin, Luke stood straight to face the approaching duo, then he pulled Rosa close and mentally begged his body to behave. “Showtime.”

#tears of themis #tears of themis fanfic #luke pearce #luke x rosa #lukerosa #lukeweek2021

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tartagilicious · 3 years

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THEIR ROMANCE TROPES ; 🌷

[out of context main story (ch7?) spoilers during artem's, only mentioned]

LUKE: childhood friends to lovers + hella romantic tension

-> when luke disappeared from your life, you half expected to never see him again. it was so sudden, so unprecedented, that you could barely rationalise it.

-> you were hurt and angry in the moment, but the reason why didn’t really hit you until much much later — you were in love with him.

-> but for years, you're unable to get in contact with him. at times, you think that's that, and maybe cutting off contact was for the better.

-> and then he appears again. by complete chance, you happen to reunite as partners on a case, and you couldn’t be more delighted. luke seemed extremely happy to see you, too. it was like he had never left.

-> though, it’s hard to be friends with someone you’re so in love with — even the smallest things mean something different, touches carry history and certain words are seen through another lense.

-> until!! one cliché night, as all the stories go, something goes right. maybe you’re stuck out in the rain together, maybe he finds you crying in your office, or maybe he even bites the bullet and goes for it himself!

-> “i’ve been in love with you since we were kids.”

-> your relationship is one that is long awaited by not only yourselves, but also most around you. it was the kind of friendship that was sickening sweet to witness — you didn’t exactly trip over yourselves, but your mutual want for something more might have been a bit stifling at times

-> celestine was this 🤏 close to doing all the work herself

VYN: enemies to lovers + royalty au

-> the prince makes you furious with his sharp tongue and keen wit, coming neck to neck with you in everything he can. yet, you would be lying if you didn’t see some kind of kindness resting beneath his constant gaze.

-> still, it’s a lowly detail when you’re combative in nearly everything else.

-> as the royal court’s attorney, you don’t see him often. for someone so tenacious, you’re surprised yet aren’t more suits against him. then again, he is a prince. but, when you don’t have the title looking over your head, it’s as if you’re magnets that always find their way back to each other.

-> unbeknownst to you, though, is that these magnetic circumstances are rarely unplanned. vyn is well aware of the stigma of royalty being together with someone with someone of common blood, and is hesitant to break it. he sees your skirmishes as a way to meet you, to see your fiery compassion up close without raising suspicions, even if it's not the way he wants.

-> you had always seen him as an enemy until one night, until you are both locked out in the rain together. at first, you snip at each other's resolve as usual, until vyn is quiet. he notices you shivering and offers you the coat you'd just called ridiculously ugly minutes before.

-> yet, you take it. and from there appears the first crack in your resolve. he notices it and cherishes it well

-> not to mention, he takes advantage of it. now, hidden in his insults are specific compliments only you recognise. he isn't so brutal all the time anymore, as if the nature of his teasing has changed. it boggles you, even though you understand his sudden switch

-> with a few nice gestures and suddenly you like him?? what kind of logic is that??

-> sound logic, apparently. because one night, when you can't take it anymore, you ask him why he's doing what he is, and everything is lost from that point on. i love you. his reasoning sounds convincing enough to you.

MARIUS: meet cute + mutual pining

-> when a handsome stranger saves your life at a crosswalk, you never expect to see him a few weeks later as the person sitting behind the desk belonging to your new investigation partner.

-> you can't help but gasp, and he has a similar reaction. it sends you both into a small fit of laughter. artem looks between the two of you, as he was the one to introduce you, but he can't help but suddenly think he's become more of a third wheel

-> your impression of him is already extremely good, and it's not hard to like his playful and considerate personality. he barely even has to do anything to win you over. it's just, there's one complication -- does he like you in the same way?

-> you're worried he's only being nice to you because he sees you as a friend, as someone who'd come into his life on a good note. and the feeling is crushing. it takes up your days and nights. marius' every little action has to mean something either good or bad

-> and you know, they say that love blinds. i think it's true in this case especially, because it's so obvious to everyone around you that marius isn't simply just being nice - he's head over heels for you.

-> it's a complicated kind of relationship, full of maybes and useless jealousy over things that don't matter. but nonetheless, you both are kind. you respect the idea that the other may not want the same thing, even if it means the two of you are suffering in silence.

-> it goes on like this until marius asks you to swing by his studio, looking for another hand to transfer art supplies somewhere. he opens the door with paint splattered on his face, a guilty smile tugging at his lips, and in that moment, you've never wanted to kiss him more.

-> you share a look as he lets you into the apartment, and just as he shuts the door. marius is absolutely delighted, and when his paint covered hands cup you cheeks, you squeal into his lips. the split second decision single handedly dispels months of worry.

ARTEM: near death experiences, im so sad

-> when you had first come into the office, there was nothing special about you. you were working towards becoming a full-fledged lawyer after graduating, much like a lot of other people who had taken up jobs at themis.

-> yet overtime, as you began to find your place in the hectic environment, there was something about you that seemed to stand out. your unending consideration, strong moral code, and compassion for those in need -- artem noticed things that he grew to love

-> as partners, there was never a moment he regretted giving you the offer. you were smart, capable. you did every job with him not as a mirror, but as a puzzle piece, filling in the blanks he hadn't noticed. even if you still learned, still made mistakes, artem didn't realise how much he truly had begun to treasure you until he had to choose between you and himself.

-> it was a cruel but easy choice. when he pulled the lever that cut off oxygen to his own chamber, he knew that if he died, he would regret leaving you alone. but, if he had done the opposite, your death would have haunted him. you were everything he'd ever wanted, and if anything, it was you that needed to survive. ironically, he loved you more than the oxygen he breathes (oop)

-> but when artem opened his eyes again, he was not dead. he was in the arms of the person he loved, and seeing you alive was enough to put him at ease.

-> he croaked out his feelings without warning to even himself, voice faded with disuse. and all you could do was smile even as tears rained from your eyes.

-> i know, you nod. i love you too.

#unedited #tears of themis #tot #tears of themis luke #tot marius #tears of themis marius #tears of themis artem #tears of themis x reader #xia yan #mo yi #lu jinghe #zuo ran

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zero-braincells-left · 1 year

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I posted 74 times in 2022

That's 74 more posts than 2021!

61 posts created (82%)

13 posts reblogged (18%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@stopadoptingstraysdavid

@dumplingsjinson

@raedas

@i-exist-and-stuff-bruh

@campcamp5ever-notforever

I tagged 66 of my posts in 2022

Only 11% of my posts had no tags

#camp camp - 26 posts

#cc harrison - 12 posts

#camp camp harrison - 11 posts

#dqb2 - 6 posts

#cc nerris - 6 posts

#vyn <3 - 6 posts

#orea’s irrelevant thoughts - 6 posts

#cc preston - 6 posts

#help - 6 posts

#camp camp nerris - 6 posts

Longest Tag: 126 characters

#pfft no i didn’t make this for the sole purpose of subtly expressing my sexuality headcanons for them??? pff who would do that

My Top Posts in 2022:

still tot shit

there are 2 braincells bouncing around my head any they’re both thinking of this game so here are my thoughts on stuff

btw, I’m on ep. 4 of the main story. stuck on 4-14. help.

ok now the main characters

marius: idk, I don’t have a lot to say regarding him. stereotypical rich boy with more personality that meets the eye. but his romantic story thing is pretty good so far ig

artem: nothing to say. don’t know him much, don’t care for him much

VYN

i love him <3

he is pretty jealous but yknow what I don’t minddd

also the way he talks?? his vocabulary ig is so different from everyone else and I kinda love it???

also also I’ve always been really interested in psychology and wanna study it once I get a bit older.. it’s just really interesting and

anyways did I mention that I love vyn??

14 notes - Posted November 2, 2022

fucking around with randomized color palates: brought to you by the performance trio

i hate how it turned out