#*Cronus Starstrings | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bookwormally · 4 years ago

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a Valentine’s request for @celestial-rosettes!

It starts with his office.

Corvus knows what today is. They have plans tonight and he knows well that the holiday lasts all day long. But they have plans tonight. ‘Tonight’ is not when he walks into his office first thing to start his work day. And yet there’s a new vase placed on his desk full of roses and tied with a bow. He doesn’t have to check the card to know exactly who is to blame.

He runs his thumb over one soft petal and takes a moment to appreciate the scent they bring to the room. He’ll have to let Eri know he appreciates it once he gets home. For now, he has work to do. Corvus turns away from the flowers and to the work that never seems to end. Running a school, teaching classes, and everything else - there’s always more work to be done. His time is carefully measured out for the day and thus Valentine’s celebrations will have their time this evening.

Of course, he isn’t the only one involved in such things. Machinations outside of his schedule are already in motion.

Eri smooths out the list and runs a claw down it. “Roses delivered ta his office and the secondary gift is set up in his classroom. Lunch…I was thinking of visiting to see if he was ready for the direct approach.”

Cronus’s ear flick forward as he considers, but then he shakes his head. “The gifts alone won’t be enough. Come with lunch and…I’ll speak to some of the students.”

“Why Cro, are you goin’ to use children for evil?” Eri laughs.

“Is it evil to tell them that their professor has a very special someone who he won’t even see till dinner?” Cronus grins. “I think it’s an excellent lesson on love and relationships.”

“He’s going to kill us,” Eri says cheerfully. “Okay, I’ll see him at lunch after you’ve set the big doe-eyed babes on him.”

There’s a lovely new set of glass beakers and test tubes on his desk in his classroom – each one has a little bit of chocolate or a bigger heart shaped piece inside. Corvus huffs what could count for a laugh and unwraps one. He eats it while he quickly hides the rest before his students arrive. He’s willing to share…when it’s not a gift meant for him.

Plus, teaching children not wound up on sugar is always preferred.

He sets to writing several notes on the board as he hears them start to arrive. He takes care with the lettering, making sure that it doesn’t curl in such a way to make it unreadable to anyone who might struggle with a script. He considers, briefly, adding a small heart to the board. But that’s nonsense and has nothing to do with the lesson regardless.

Corvus turns and dusts the chalk from his fingers. “Good afternoon, everyone.”

“Good afternoon, Professor Starflower,” several reply with smiles.

One girl immediately sticks her hand up. “Professor Starflower, I have a question before we begin!”

“Yes?” Corvus shifts his weight, checking the door to make sure everyone’s arrived.

“Is it true that you have a Valentine?” She stares right at him, his ears clearly perked in interest.

He is about to give a simple yes and move on, when he notices that she’s not the only one focused on him. Several of his students are clearly interested, beyond just hearing it asked about now. Corvus’s eyebrows draw together. Has someone been talking about him? Hm, well, he can still move on.

“Yes, I do. I’ll be seeing them once school is done for the day. Now-.”

“Do you love them?” Another student asks, face slightly flushed. “Like for forever?”

Someone has been talking and Corvus has an inkling as to who. Corvus lifts one neat eyebrow. “Indeed. Who mentioned this to you? He doesn’t work here at the school.”

“Professor Starstrings was talking to a really pretty person at the station!” That student is always volunteering – they like to help. Corvus nods. “We asked who they were and he said that they were your Valentine! He was all dressed up and had the prettiest red coat on.”

Eri’s here? Corvus looks toward the door automatically. Surely, he’d respect Corvus’s work and not interrupt class. Eri’s not exactly known for patience, but he’s not so crass as to interrupt his class. No shadow moves on the other side of the door and Corvus exhales through his nose. What are they up to?

He shakes his head and turns back to the class. “I will introduce you another time. Now, let’s review our last lesson. We’ll be building on those same properties today.”

If he’s a little distracted, glancing at the door off and on, his students have the decency not to point it out. Of course, they don’t know Eri or Cronus like he does. He half expects to get out of class and find his office completely transfigured.

When he does let the class go, he stays behind as is his norm – anyone with questions can take the extra minutes to speak with him without their peers looking on. No one lingers today, all of them chatting or leaving at their own paces as he cleans up.

“Oh, excuse me!”

“Oh, Professor Starflower, your Valentine is here!”

Corvus takes a moment to close his eyes and breathe. Then he lifts his head to take in just what plot has come to his door. Eri is standing there in the aforementioned bright red coat done up against the cold. It hugs his curves, but is more than acceptable for the school. Eri smiles at him and lifts a tray. “Brought you your lunch. Cro says you never think to eat on time and I wasn’t going to let that happen today.”

“Of course not. You could have waited in my office. I don’t want to eat in here.” Corvus looks past Eri to see half his class crowding the doorway and peeking in. He doesn’t blame them for being curious, but it is a bit…embarrassing when they know him as their professor.

But that’s not going to stop Eri. He puts the tray on Corvus’s desk and kisses his cheek. “We’ll go up together so I know you actually have your lunch.”

“Is that part of your Valentine duties?” Corvus arches an eyebrow.

“Yes, it’s written in the code.” Eri winks at him and leans against his desk. “You know how seriously I take codes.”

“Very seriously,” Corvus says, barely keeping his lips from twitching. “Let’s go to my office then.”

Eri puts a hand to his arm. “One moment, professor. There’s one more thing.”

Corvus arches an eyebrow, but then someone strums a guitar. His head moves to the doorway and Cronus is standing there with his guitar. His students are still there, grinning widely, and a couple even clap as Cronus starts playing and singing.

“Fly me to the moon. Let me play among the stars. And let me see what spring is like…on a-Jupiter and Mars.” Cronus moves into the classroom and several students follow. Corvus is beginning to suspect this was more than a spur of the moment visit and in fact was planned for more than a week. He presses his lips together.

“In other words, hold my hand,” Eri takes over the lyrics, catching Corvus’s hand in his. “In other words, baby, kiss me.” He leans close and presses another kiss to Corvus’s cheek. His lips twitch, but he’s not giving in that easily.

“Fill my heart with song, and let me sing forevermore.” Cronus sings to the kids around him who are all clapping with him now.

“You are all I long for, all I worship and adore.” Eri undoes the top button of his coat and he’s definitely dressed for dinner and not a school visit underneath. He winks and leaves just the top button open. “In other words, please be true. In other words…” He draws it out as he leans into Corvus’s shoulder.

“In other words,” Cronus echoes.

“In other words!” Several of his students add into the round.

“In other words, I love you.” Eri hooks a hand around his neck. “I love you, Corvus. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

This is ridiculous and over the top. They show that they love one another practically every damn day.

But…this did this for him. Corvus leans in to tap their foreheads together gently. “I love you too,” he says softly, with a smile. “You over the top Valentine.”

“That’s me,” Eri says with delight and gives him a real kiss – one full of warmth, passion, and overall, love.

#me: drabbles also me: 1450 words later #*my writing

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