coconigiri

[coconigiri]

teaguru 𓂃 tea ෆ meguru bachira

sunlight drips like honey over the field, soaked in warmth and the slow, sleepy lull of cicadas. a soccer ball lies forgotten somewhere behind the two bodies. they are breathless and grass-stained, tucked beneath the weeping willow that stretches out like a lover. limbs curling downwards towards the ground in a sweet embrace. 

TEA [birthday-bright, sweat-slicked, eyes glassy with laughter] collapses onto the grass, arms flung wide like she’s offering herself up to the sky. beside her, MEGURU [half-feral joy, eyes a deep morning gold, electric] groans dramatically, chest rising and falling quickly. he tosses his sweat-drenched shirt over a low-hanging branch and stretches out to tea, brushing his fingers along her wrist.

his thumb idly traces slow spirals against her skin, each motion whispering a silent ‘stay with me’.

MEGURU: [laughing breathlessly] that was so fun, i think almost passed out. heh, so worth it.

TEA: [pouting cutely, chest heaving as she turns to face meguru] i told you to not go easy on me just ‘cause it’s my birthday!

MEGURU: [still catching his breath] pinky promise, i wasn’t! guess you’re just that good at soccer.

TEA: [giggling, reaching out to poke his cheek] you’d better watch out — i may just wind up snagging your spot on the U20 team.

meguru scoots closer to tea, taking her hand and playfully biting her finger in a show of defiance. their laughter overlaps, blown through the wind. It dances through the tree, swirls ‘round the tops of grassy blades like a secret only the two of them are privy to.

he then rolls on his side to face her. the curve of his smile stretches ear-to-ear, and his gaze softens — almost melts as he studies tea. the bridge of her nose, the sun-flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes crease at the corners from the joy of being in love. he looks at her as if he’s the only one in the world allowed to look.

MEGURU: i’m so happy that we get to spend your birthday like this. no crowds, no chaos… just you, and me, and the grass.

a beat of silence follows. vast and warm and gentle. the kind that feels like a cradle. then, meguru props himself up on an elbow buried in the dirt, curls falling into his eyes. there’s something in the expression he wears, too intense for a smile to fully carry.  

MEGURU: [serious, in his own way] you know, i really enjoy birthdays.

TEA: [quirking a brow curiously] oh?

MEGURU: it’s like… a day for you to be the sun. just one day where everything revolves around you. you deserve that, tea… a whole wide universe that pays attention to how bright and special you are.

he speaks simply. the words are honest and pure, in the way a child loves. no flowery dressing to it, nor practiced charm.

tea stares back, breath catching in her throat. she searches her boyfriend’s face like a map, like something she’s been running all her life toward.

TEA: [sincerely, biting back a flustered laugh] you’re such a dork.

MEGURU: [glancing up at tea with earnest] your dork, though.

shadows shift over their bodies – nearly in an embrace, and a bird chirps in the distant. the sun dips a little lower, as if to grace the couple with the privacy they’ll soon be wanting. meguru leans back again, this time, with his cheek pressed to tea’s shoulder. he squints up at her against the setting light, humming low and threadbare and gentle.

a soothing hush falls, and the leaves stops rustling as the wind stills. waiting, anticipating.

MEGURU: [gently] can i kiss you, tea?

TEA: you’re asking this, on my birthday?

MEGURU: [grinning in that boyish, crooked way of his] what — i have manners!

she giggles, and pulls him closer with grassy palms. he leans in quietly, the same way a tide eases up along the shore. and then, their lips meet — soft and easy and slow and natural. meguru’s hand smooths along tea’s waist, coming up to cup her jaw, thumb brushing the lift of her cheekbone in an attempt to memorise the moment they share by touch alone.

they pull apart hesitantly, only slightly. noses bumping and eyes fluttering happily.

with a squeal, tea gets pulled into meguru’s lap, and he rolls them both over. he cradles her in his arms, as though he’s holding the brightest star in his sky.

and the earth holds them both, as though they belong to it.

MEGURU: [low and adoring, whispered into tea’s hair] you make me feel like i’m already winning, even when i’m not chasing anything.

tea doesn’t respond – at least, not with words. she simply slips her fingers and threads her palms with his, twisting together, roots twisting into the dirt.

growing deeper, growing stronger.

— @teataglia happy belated birthday to the qTEAest (cutiest) girl in the whole wide world! whenever i think of teaguru i think of hazy late spring-early summer dreams like this, i hope this small token of my adoration for you is enjoyable to read ✧⁺⸜(●′▾‵●)⸝⁺✧

[coconigiri]

moevie 𓂃 evie ෆ moze

wee hours in the morn, coddled beneath layers of the storm-sound. the deluge outside, a soft singing hum, thunder creeping through the cracks lining the windowsill. the bedroom is lit dimly only by the warm light of muted fairy lights lining the wall, and a laptop screen. EVIE [sunshine kind, wildly enthused, a loose thread fraying off a sweater hem] sits cross-legged at the foot of the bed, a long-gone-cold mug of tea nestled in her hand. there are faint shadows beneath her eyes, growing ever so slowly by the day. they seep into her chest. 

her lover, MOZE [sun-shadowed, crow-brained, diamond-hearted], a light sleeper, especially so without evie in his arms, stirs awake at a particularly grating clap of thunder and the dull clicks from the laptop keyboard coming from the other side of the bed. 

moze keeps himself hidden for a moment, silently observing evie. the tired slope of her shoulders and the gentle upwards curl she’s trained to keep on her lips. darkly, solemnly, softly… over and over, night after night, it’s exactly this.

MOZE: [voice heady with sleep, and tender, as it always is when speaking to evie] evie. you’re still awake.

evie startles slightly at the unexpected voice, and turns to face her lover with a smile so quick and practiced that it nearly convinces him of its false genuinity. nearly.

EVIE: [hushed, brows pinched apologetically] sorry, did i wake you? there are still a few things for me to do, but i’ll come join you in bed soon!

MOZE: [tilting his head, studying her] it’s nearly 3 o’clock in the morning. you look tired.

moze takes note of how the smile she shares with him doesn’t reach her eyes as it usually does. with a sigh, he sits up from the bed, sheets rustling. the light from the laptop reveals the bout of concern etched into his features. it’s not so easily visible, coming from a man who has also trained himself to keep his countenance a certain way, but evie recognises it instantaneously. her heart patters and aches.

EVIE: [reassuring, giving him a thumbs up] it’s nothing, really! same old college grind, heh.

she watches, a bit dumbfounded as moze swings his legs over the side of the bed and walks around to her side, taking the mug from her hands and placing it atop the dresser on the other side of the room. 

EVIE: [curiously, quirking a brow] oh?

the two share a few blinks, before evie rises from the bed to retrieve her tea. moze is unyielding as he steps in front of her, blocking her path no matter which way she tries to step. she giggles at his behaviour, the sound reaching his heart and coaxing a weak smile unto his own lips.

EVIE: what are you doing? i want my tea, please.

MOZE: [quiet, but firm] what i’m doing is asking you to come to bed.

evie opens her mouth in a gasp, but her protest is swiftly silenced when moze slips the laptop off of the bed and places it out of reach.

MOZE: you’ve been running on empty for weeks.

EVIE: [playfully stern] moze—

MOZE: [gently, a soft command] evie, lie down with me. please.

there’s a look of dreadful love in moze’s eyes, his voice almost a plea. evie hesitates, the innate need to keep moving, keep smiling, keep doing— something, anything, for school, and for the people she holds close. she struggles against the pull of her lover’s words, but ultimately surrenders defeat when he takes her wrist in her hands, grip firm but reassuring. a shadow offering reprieve from the heat of the sun.

and when she wills her smile away into something more vulnerable, sincere… when she allows moze to see the neglected air of exhaustion, of softness, of longing, he can’t help but feel his heart spill open.

MOZE: [tossing the quilt over both his and evie’s bodies, offering her a pillow with the muscle of his arm] i see how hard you try. even when it’s breaking you.

uncharacteristically, she falls silent, unable to find the words to reassure him that she indeed really is fine. but moze sees it all. he feels it all. the silence is deafening. and so he holds her heart like a flower, lest it bloom and collapse, cradling it to his own as it opens up and scoops it out of the dark.

MOZE: [drawing closer, tip of his nose dusting hers in a gentle coax] you can let me take care of you.

EVIE: [weakly, on the verge of tears, a little broken] i’m sorry. i don’t want to be extra weight.

heartbreakingly selfless, and heartachingly concerned about the welfare of others. the perennial woes of a girl who offers up the moon but would never ask for in return. it grinds the gears in moze’s mind, that she gives so freely that it nearly bleeds her dry. he tucks his free arm around her, as if to shield her from not only the world, but her own mind.

MOZE: [resolute] don’t say that.

and he opens his mouth to speak, but promptly purses his lips when he hears a sniffle muffled into the junction of his neck. there will always be other times to remind her of her worth; to not marry it with her success at school, nor the things she can do for others. for now, bit by bit, day by day, he’ll be content being the little crow that picks up the shiny chipped pieces of her heart and fuses it back to its rightful state.

MOZE: [tenderly, voice honeyed, running a soothing palm along her head] rest, evie. close your eyes. even if it’s only for a short while. just…. let the world spin without you for a moment. let me be selfish and keep you to myself.

— happy (very late very belated... so sorry! TT) birthday to my eviepup 🩶 @unriding please think of this as my love letter to you... i know despite all the smiles and laughs you share with us, these months are hard for you... and with school coming up, i know how you tend to wear yourself thin trying to do everything!! so, when that time comes around, i hope you might be able to read this and seek some comfort in it 💌 because you bring all of us A Lot of it < 333 you are cherished by so many! please never forget this ꒰ ˆ ꒵ ˆ꒱ ‧₊˚ 

[coconigiri]

WELCOME TO COCO’S ONIGIRI BAR · ˚ . ⊹ exit through the giftshop!

things are a bit messy here... but everything is made full of heart and is a place to share in the spoils of love. there is no obligation to enter if you happen to chance by, but know that everyone is welcome!

[coconigiri]

puppetgear 𓂃 niko ෆ wanderer

the terrace surrounding the sanctuary of surasthana sits at the highest point of sumeru city, nestled safely within a dense thicket of adhigama trees. it’s more often than not that NIKO [wheelchair-bound, enigmatic, twilight-born] finds himself seeking moments of reprieve up here on his own — solitude from this racing world and a heart full of hectic melancholy. tonight, though, new year’s eve; nearing the date of his birth, niko is not alone beneath the moon pallor. he entertains the company of WANDERER [eternal, sharp-tongued, fragile], his lover of few months, and former rival of many more. 

the two sit by the terrace’s edge, sharing in the silence between them that has grown out of being tense and into something more warm… but still, a bit stiff. they watch the stars twinkle down at them as if to tease and poke at the rope of awkwardness pulled taut between them, they watch the passersby on streets below squealing and laughing and rushing to get a good view of new years fireworks, they watch each other out of their periphery: 

niko nervously adjusting his gloves and twisting at the knobs of his meka leg, fumbling around with too much energy and nowhere to put it. 

wanderer and his pose so casual, aloof, resting his chin upon his palm and heaving a sigh, as if this is the last place he wants to be. at least, this is what he tries to convince himself of. tries, and utterly fails.

NIKO: [faintly, breaking the ice] thank you… for being here with me. for my birthday… and for new year’s eve. it’s, um… nice.

wanderer pinches his brows in annoyance, but it is rather a pretence for how endearing he finds niko like this. nervous and anxious. to trust wanderer enough to be all soul and vulnerability in front of him.

WANDERER: nice? [biting his tongue, exhaling forcefully through his nose, keeping to his resolution of trying to avoid mincing his words around niko] sure, it’s nothing.

niko doubles down and shifts uncomfortably in his seat. he too bites his tongue, uncharacteristic as he swallows down the crass names he’s used to addressing his former rival by.

NIKO: i just, well… i mean it’s nice being here… with you… like, you’re nice…

wanderer spares niko a quick glance, caught off guard by the sincerity of his response. for but a moment, his eyes soften, his heart aches, but he is quick to mask it with his usual bravado.

WANDERER: you already said nice two times. no wonder you’re not in the haravatat darshan.

silence settles between them again, a fragile kind of silence full of unspoken desires. niko swallows hard, and turns his wheelchair to face wanderer. he inhales deeply, flexing his fingers along his armrest, his pulse rushing to his head and dizzying him.

NIKO: [steeling himself] okay. wanderer?

WANDERER: [skeptical] what is it now?

NIKO: [continuing, struggling for words and breath] i… can i—

WANDERER: what — you’re gonna confess your undying love for me again or something?

niko sputters upon hearing wanderer’s teasing words, sounding out a garbled, confused whimper in response. he can wade in grief, he’s used to pools of it, but this… love… it’s almost unbearable, even after months of it with wanderer. he thinks it’s something he’ll never fully get used to.

NIKO: [grimacing to mask his embarrassment] ew, no! i, um… [exhaling softly, voice turning gentle] it’s just…

the look he gives wanderer is almost pained — brows knit, and stars melted in his eyes. longing and yearning that cuts wanderer deep, through centuries past. it’s a silent plea of sorts, he can tell. niko’s bad head with wanderer’s bad heart. together, though, they have something worthwhile. something worth saving.

WANDERER: [growing flustered under niko’s soft gaze] c-cut it out. don’t look at me like that, it’s weird.

NIKO: [quickly, in a single breath] have you… have you had your first kiss yet?

wanderer blinks, eyes blown wide in confusion. he opens his mouth to speak, but the words get lost somewhere between his heart and his lips for a brief moment. WANDERER: [mumbling almost bashfully] even if i did, it’s none of your business.

the words fly through one of niko’s ears and right out the other as he braces himself for what he’s worked up the courage for for months — turning his head from wanderer ever so slightly, and reaching a trembling hand out to hold his slightly larger one in his grasp. niko thumbs at wanderer’s puppet joints, a habit the latter had come to notice as something the former does when afraid.

NIKO: [straining, voice shaky with anxious jitters] can— may i kiss you?

WANDERER: [gritting his teeth and fisting his free hand in an attempt to soothe the fast quiver of his heart] how are you planning on kissing me if you’re facing the other way? dumbass.

NIKO: [reflexively] i-i’m not the dumbass, you are!

wanderer watches with amusement at niko’s weak outburst — the slight pout of his lips, the glaze in his eyes that almost makes him look like he’s tearing up, the sweaty feel of his palm beneath his own.

niko squeezes his eyes shut impossibly tight and leans forward, slowly, tentatively, his other hand gripping the edge of his wheelchair for leverage. each centimetre feels like a kilometre, and if he thinks too hard about it, he’s almost certain his lungs will give out on him. he folds his fear into a perfect flower and presents it freely to wanderer — in the palm of his hand, the purse of his lips as he leans closer, closer. wanderer watches niko, his characteristic sharpness softening into something unreadable. his hold on niko’s hand tightens even without him realising it.

WANDERER: for archon’s sake. [muttering to himself beneath his breath] you’re seriously going to make me wait all night?

before niko has the chance to open his eyes and retreat back into his shell, wanderer leans forward with no hesitancy, closing the gap between them. his hand is gentle as it cradles niko’s cheek, and the latter finds himself giving his heart in soft surrender at the loving gesture.

it begins as a slow kiss, full of unspoken promises and apologies between two individuals of love and slaughter. It feels to wanderer almost as if niko is pouring himself into him when he begins to grow a bit desperate, softly moaning and getting greedy with his lips, and in this moment, he makes sure that he will never let a drop of him hit the ground.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK AND NIKO !! thank you for giving a certain 🍙 nonnie permission to write ppgear’s first kiss heh .. :’’ @puppetgearing i hope this was okay and the details are correct 🥺 i took some liberties with the setting and making their first kiss on niko’s birthday, but if you wanted me to switch things around to make it more lore accurate i’d be moooore than excited to do so !!! this is only a piece of the revenge for that pfp you so graciously gifted me ): more coming your way !! i heart you !!! happy birthday & a happy new year to youuu !! 🎉✨💝🎂

[coconigiri]

mirakei 𓂃 amira ෆ keigo takami

soft snow. the whistle of the winter wind. a crimson-blue afternoon at the end of december, and the sky is tufts of billowed smoke over the setting horizon. KEIGO [eternal, heart-trapper, desire-harbinger], known in the human realm as but a mere charming yet enigmatic matchmaker, sits at his office desk, sun haloing his head through the open window. across from him, his secretary, AMIRA [rabbit soul, rosy-mouthed, candlelit warm] leans on the edge of the desk, setting a cupcake down in front of him. her smile is of mirth as she looks his way; knowing his secret, who he truly is, and yet here they sit, together, after-hours, knotted in a game that neither of them can place a name to.

AMIRA: [playfully] december 28th… what an interesting date to pick out of thin air as a birthday.

KEIGO: [grinning, sticking a single candle through the middle of his cupcake] well, the chances of me being found out as cupid would probably increase if i picked, say… february 14th, no?

amira flushes with laughter at her boss’ cheeky retort, a warm sound that swells both the air of his office and his heart.

AMIRA: fair enough. i suppose today’s just a random date at the end of the year. [smiling] still… i want to make it special for you! it’s your first ever proper birthday, after all.

KEIGO: [rolling his eyes] you humans are so sentimental about birthdays.

his smirk softens into a fond smile when he catches sight of the gleeful, excited glint in amira’s eyes as she lights the candle, pushing the cupcake closer to him. his voice turns soft, honey butter on toast, only for his ears to hear.

KEIGO: it’s rather endearing, actually.

AMIRA: [unknowing; still smiling, always smiling] happy birthday, keigo! you’re now… one year old! [cheering, roses rooted in her heart] make a wish!

she’s too busy changing settings on her polaroid camera to notice the gaze keigo has on her: starry eyes turning molten gold, a sad smile, a heart consumed by longing. 

KEIGO: [uncharacteristically quiet] what should i wish for, amira? all my life i’ve been granting wishes for others; it feels… almost wrong to make one for myself.

amira lowers the camera from her face and pouts at keigo. as if she’s sad for him. longing in his stead. 

AMIRA: but that’s exactly why you deserve to make a wish for yourself! you do so much for others, so… [grows flustered realising the suddenness of her earnest outbreak] so, i hope you can let yourself be selfish — just for once, and wish for something nice for yourself.

has anyone ever wanted anything for him, in all his existence?

KEIGO: [gently, dreamily] thank you, amira.

AMIRA: [painfully clueless] for what?

the look she shares with keigo — the inquisitive tilt of her head, that profoundly tender smile perpetually on her lips —  he thinks it to be utterly cruel.

KEIGO: [gesturing] for this. all of it. the cupcake. the decorations. for trusting in me and staying by my side for all this time.

amira’s smile falters and her cheeks swell with heat. her voice betrays her warmth.

AMIRA: it’s nothing to thank me for… it’s just my job.

KEIGO: [shaking his head, brows knit in a silent plea. the weight of centuries presses down on him] no. it’s thoughtful. you’re thoughtful.

for but a brief moment, the playfulness between the two fades, and with it is replaced an unspoken tension, words that bubble and froth over the edges of their hearts, begging to be spilled.

KEIGO: [sighing] you know, i would assume that most people don’t place this much effort into celebrating their boss’ arbitrary birthday.

AMIRA: [quietly, almost bashful] i suppose so… but most people also aren’t gods that have fallen to humanity.

keigo studies amira safely, now that her gaze has fallen onto the flicker of his birthday candle. apples and colocynth are lodged in his throat. perhaps it is not yet time to regurgitate them into his open palms.

KEIGO: [forcing a bright smile, sitting up in his chair] alright! you win. are you going to take this picture of me when i blow out the candle, or what?

he poses goofily with his cupcake, coaxing a giggle out of amira. she snaps a few polaroids of him, and then an attempted selfie of the two of them together. 

as they share the cupcake, fond memories of the year past, and hopes for the future, the film develops. in the frame amira and keigo are squeezed cheek-to-cheek, bright-eyed, sugar-smiles. the faint pink aura of one of cupid’s wings draped warmly around her arm. a fragile, beautiful thing.

— so i’m late ☹️ to the world’s second greatest day of the year (second after amira day) ☹️ i’m sowwiiiies TT i hope this teensy something can make up for the fact 💓 promise i’ll be first in line to wish your husband next year :3 right after you wish him, of course ! @pastelle-rabbit happy belated birthday mr mira, thank you for loving my friend so deeply & truly, the way she deserves ! ! 🥺

[coconigiri]

jadetham 𓂃 jade ෆ al haitham

pardis dhyai, nigh midnight. it's just-past-sabzeruz and AL HAITHAM [silvertongued, moonshine handsome, oyster-throated] has brought JADE [equally silvertongued, eggshell-boned, but with a heart cut from diamond] to the botanical garden to show her the new species of flower he's cultivated. a precious gift for his precious lover.

al haitham's hands cup jade's as she holds one in the cradle of her palms, the butterfly-beats of his fingers tickling her skin. the hybrid flower heavily resembles nilotpala lotuses, blooming into soft shades of blue and indigo beneath the moonlight that casts a silver glow through the glass windows, glinting off the unfurling petals as if they're cheekily saying hello.

JADE: [half-smiling, head caught in an inquisitive tilt] so... this is what you've been up to the past few weeks, spending all that time with tighnari and collei. don't tell me you're planning on leaving me behind in the city to join the forest rangers.

al haitham huffs out a breathy chuckle, the corner of his lip curling into an infuriatingly handsome smirk.

AL HAITHAM: never. [a terse pause, and then his smirk spreads wider] if i did, who else would you have around to keep you on your toes?

he plucks one of the bloomed flowers from the garden, walking around behind jade to tuck its stem within the roots of her braided hair, sealing its spot with a whisper of a kiss to the crown of her head.

AL HAITHAM: i've been doing some reading on flower language, and—

JADE: [playfully] as if the 20 languages you already know aren't enough?

her question breaks off into a lovely little peal of giggles as al haitham responds to her teasing by flicking another flower towards her face, splashing the nighttide dew from the petals over her cheek.

AL HAITHAM: [rolling his eyes in faux exasperation] — and, the lotus has historically been connected to eternal devotion.

jade gives him a sly look, and he can't help but smile at the sight of how she sucks in her cheek between her molars in that adorable way she does when playing coy with him.

JADE: eternal devotion, hm... might you be hinting at something, al haitham?

there's a beat of silence as al haitham admires jade like this, as she stands before him in all her coquettish beauty, beneath the milky moonlight. the subtle hitch of his breath that doesn't go unnoticed by her, the gooey melt of his gaze that usually strikes one upon the realisation of how deep in love they've drowned.

AL HAITHAM: [hushed, as if he is to speak a secret] you really want to know?

JADE: [humming in playful contemplation] i do.

AL HAITHAM: alright, then.

there's a mischievous twinkle that swims around his eyes as takes a step toward her, ghosting his pointer finger over the strand of hair that falls by her face, tucking it behind her ear before holding so delicately her jaw in the seat of his palm.

AL HAITHAM: [with an uncharacteristic softness] you see, there is this woman i am quite devoted to— this clever, witty, maddeningly beautiful woman who finds it most amusing to keep me on my toes... that i would not mind spending the rest of my life with.

jade catches him shuffling his free hand around in his pocket out of her periphery, and her heart begins to thump a little harder in anticipation at what might occur in the seconds to follow.

JADE: [grinning, but the slight wobble to her voice gives her away] the rest of your life? that sounds exhausting for her. how do you know she's up for it?

the two share a charged look, and al haitham thumbs at jade's ring finger, searching for something that is soon yet to find its home there.

AL HAITHAM: [barely a whisper] have i ever been wrong when it came to matters surrounding her? i'm willing to take my chances.

— happy two years of love my precious jadetham 🌱❄️ here is something small, a memory of you both captured in my eyes as the fly on the wall ♥︎ i hope you can forgive me for being so late to the occasion .. @silkjade

[coconigiri]

argenxi 𓂃 xin ෆ argenti

the bedroom is dimly lit by the amber glow of a candle and the moon casting shadows of blue against the walls. XIN [briar rose, lace-embroidered heart, a cluster of soft pearls] and ARGENTI [fiery maned and cool tongued, moon pallor flesh, knightly beauty] lay with tangled limbs beneath rumpled sheets, hair still fairly damp from their shared evening bath.

from another room, the lingering echos of piano notes flit in. a cat cake flopping about on the keys; there's a certain charm to its dissonance.

ARGENTI: [gently, eyes closed] what tune is this that beckons our presence?

xin giggles lightly, pressing her soft frame into his sturdier one, nuzzling his cheek with her nose affectionately. one of her legs is tossed haphazardly over his lap, and she uses this leverage to pull herself further onto his chest, smothering him with her love. he most definitely does not mind, seeing as he only tries to hug her closer, always closer.

XIN: [flippantly] you mean, ice cake making mischief on the piano?

ARGENTI: [sighs, smiling faintly] it appears so. perhaps, i should attend to that matter before we doze off.

he moves to rise from the bed, only to be held back by a feather-light touch trailing down the divots of his bicep, the heavy veins running like tree roots along the back of his hand.

XIN: [pouting, expression coquettishly innocent] and leave me in bed all alone? but it's so cold, rosie...

xin takes advantage of the marabou robe slipping off her shoulder, the peek of her décolletage that makes argenti wonder whether the thoughts floating about his mind truly make him worthy of his knightly title.

ARGENTI: [quirking a brow, leaning down to bump his nose with hers in a cheeky gesture] my briar rose is quite needy tonight, hmm?

he huffs out a silent laugh when his lover squeaks at the trace of his fingertip over her shoulder, and up her neck, and then to her chin, effectively bringing her head towards him.

ARGENTI: i may be more inclined to stay if you tell me of the dream that kept you tossing and chanting my name last night.

xin stutters exasperatedly over her words, biting her tongue, squeezing her hand around argenti's wrist in a weak attempt to stop the words that bring her back to the rather... salacious dreams from the night prior.

XIN: [shying away from his gaze, mumbling] only... only if you vow to hold your laughter.

argenti softens at xin's bashful display, chuckling softly, ever so curious of her ability to endear him to her all the more... like humans are to adorable baby animals.

ARGENTI: [hovering over her until she falls back into the bed with him] you have this knight's word... i will treasure each and every detail.

— a happy belated birthday to the sunshine of my life . . argenti's precious briar rose!! @cubffections 🧸

[coconigiri]

renkai 𓂃 kai ෆ blade

a friday in late october, and the sky shines a midnight onyx. the windows are flung wide open in the penthouse suite of the hotel, and the sounds from cobblestone streets below drift into the room: people laughing, glasses clinking, a soft city breeze.

KAI [freshly in her twenties, lamb-hearted, starry-eyed] sits on the sill, in between spread legs— BLADE [well-regarded, more musician and less rockstar these days, jewel-eyed], and the acoustic guitar he holds around her frame. out of the plethora he has, it's his favourite guitar. purchased from a garage sale some many moons ago, with both his and his lover's initials (a B and a K) carved into the body by their own hands, so... why would it be anything but his favourite? he hugs it closer to him in preparation to play kai the song he wrote for her birthday, tugging her flush to his chest in tandem, and she smiles to herself at the shift. so shy— even after all this time with him.

BLADE: [following a false start] ooh. baby, don't be like this to me.

kai bursts into a lovely little peal of giggles, which then breaks off into a tiny yawn, and blade finds himself growing evermore endeared to her— in the same way humans are to baby animals.

BLADE: [cooing and coddling, gently pinching the apple swell of her cheek] perhaps the song can wait until the morning.

KAI: [adament and pouting, tugging at the collar of his shirt] no, i want to hear it now. pretty please.

she glances up at him with an adorably sleepy gaze— for a day full of love and excitement with the person she holds closest to her heart tends to do that to oneself. the stars twinkle in her droopy eyes and the moon in her smile, and blade thinks he must surely be caught in a dream.

BLADE: [kissing her temple and softly strumming his guitar] what the birthday girl wants, the birthday girl gets...

and so, blade sings for her the sweetest lullaby. quietly, from not only his lungs but also his heart, with a voice so tender that if kai were any more awake, he's certain she may weep to receive such affection openly. he chuckles to himself at the thought, coming to a rest when he notices her adrift in her slumber on his chest.

he puts his guitar to the side and takes her body within his arms in a proper hug, careful not to wake her with his movements. he holds her like she is a precious thing, like her sinew is of cotton and her bones are of glass— because it is in such moments of tranquility and quietude that blade remembers best how, despite the front she puts up, she could shatter at any second.

BLADE: [linking pinkies with her, as if in a silent promise] if only you knew... just how loveable you are.

— for my renkai, my angelhearted @tuskpir , a happy belated birthday <3

[coconigiri]

eriyuan 𓂃 eris ෆ jing yuan

a late sunday morn, nigh noon. a dozing lion by the bedside, her tail flicking about, making mottles of gold sundust dance and float around the room.

ERIS [coquettishly charming, rose hearted, moonshine beauty] lays awake in a dream as she gazes on with gladness at the serene scene before her. her eyes come to settle on the one laying in bed aside her, JING YUAN [dozing general, golden mouthed, sunblood handsome], and a look of fondness creeps up on her face, watching him sleep. she brushes the creamy tufts of hair from his forehead, leaning down to lay a chaste kiss to the warm skin before rising from the mattress, only to be stopped by an oak-rooted grip on her wrist.

ERIS: [grinning to herself, growing butterflies] is something the matter?

JING YUAN: [pouting, putting on a boyish display] it appears so... my wife is leaving me, even after all the... lotus-eating we'd partaken in last night.

upon hearing his words, eris' eyes flicker over the clothes crumpled in a heaving pile by the hearth — clothing discarded haphazardly in the stupor of the previous night's lust-drunk escapades. she blushes deeply, and then some when she looks back at her husband — one of his eyes now popped open, smiling up her way in a manner that makes it evident that he's so dumb in love; so much so that eris' heart wilts at the sight of it.

ERIS: [teasing, but sweet] oh, please, enough of the theatrics. i'm just going to use the bathroom.

she rubs a hand over the hold he has on her wrist, not in a way to ask him to let go, but to placate him.

ERIS: isn't it time we awoke, anyway? your plants are missing you.

jing yuan laughs at this, low and handsome, the heavy rasp of his slumbered voice shaking all the sleep from her body. still, she allows herself to fall back into bed with her husband, letting him manoeuvre her body so that it tucks itself snug into his side. eris can't help but smile at his touchy affection, the perfect fit of her body to his.

JING YUAN: [patting a hand over her head, nuzzling his smile into her temple] well, i miss you more. just... lay with me a moment longer like this, dear.

his voice softens awfully, honeyed with a love that drips of yearning and tinged with wistfulness. this is a dream he wishes to never wake from.

JING YUAN: [whispering, more to himself than her] just a few moments longer with you, and then i'll be ready to face the world.

— this was supposed to be a birthday gift, but the time slipped away and it took a while for me to catch up to it again . . ^^; nevertheless, it can be eris day every day, right? happy birthday, my precious petal! @eriyuan

[coconigiri]

verimanu 𓂃 manu ෆ veritas ratio

early september, the eventide of the summer season. a gentle zephyr and mild afternoon sun bless this courtyard where MANU [weaving asphodel through her starlight hair, donning nothing but a tunic three times too large for her frame] reclines on a stone bench, indulging in honeyed wine and the beauty that surrounds. some distance away, stands VERITAS, [shirtless, sinew and artery glistening in the light, aura intense with a hidden gentle playfulness] leaning against a marbled column and watching manu intently.

MANU: [cheekily, stretching her arms up above her head] why do you gaze at me so, veritas? such a lecherous look that you wear...

with her purposeful movements, manu's dress rides further up her thighs. it's smooth porcelain under the sun that shines hot through the windows, and veritas' fingertips begin to itch. he breaths hard through his nose, jaw set firmly, the edges of his lips twitching into the subtlest of grins.

VERITAS: [stalking towards manu, tossing a fig to and fro between his hands] is this not how i look at you always?

manu shakes her head, giggling softly. veritas's heart grows weak at the sweet sound, and as he draws near, he recognises the twinkles in her eyes as not only those of mischief, but also of love.

MANU: [reaching for him, pouting childishly] with your eyes set like this, you could certainly transform a mere fig into ambrosia.

VERITAS: only a mere fig? and nothing else? [teasing, parting her legs with his broad frame to hitch them about his waist] then, do taste, dearest, and tell me if this is just a mere fig.

he splits the fig with his thumbs, and the flex of the thick vein lining his forearm coaxes a small gasp from manu. she watches the juice trickle over olive skin, the lewd rub of his thumb digging into the fruit's core as he lowers it down to her mouth. her tongue welcomes the nectar and she licks at it meekly whilst raising her gaze to meet veritas', suppressing a smile when she observes the heavy bob of his throat.

VERITAS: [quietly, in a soft growl] where is your hunger? taste it properly.

veritas leans down, hovering over manu, caging her within his arms. she squeaks when he bites into the fig from the other side— ambrosia running along his neck, dripping onto her clavicle. his mouth then meets sensitive flesh, and she arches into his touch, his bloodied maraschino lips.

MANU: [impatient, keening high in her throat] it's only you i starve for, veritas.

the tension is palpable and their heartbeats become as frantic as their fingers— groping, grasping, gliding along sticky skin. veritas grins at manu's desperation, toothy and handsome, and his hands tangle in her hair, canines on the swell of her breast.

VERITAS: [huffing, shrugging off manu's tunic] is that right? then, i suppose it would be quite inappropriate of me to keep my lover waiting for her meal...

— happy birthday @amphoraei ♥︎ may this new year around the sun bless your eternally kind heart with every little thing it desires!!

[coconigiri]

femitano 𓂃 femi ෆ capitano

inside FEMI'S [retired fatui agent, now a secretary of sorts, face flushed and lips kiss-swollen] chambers in the heart of the night. it's just past the final few days of august, and CAPITANO [first of the eleven fatui harbingers, femi's superior, back rippling with sweat] has snuck in to visit femi after weeks of having seen each other. it grows colder and bluer out past the windows, but warmer inside as the two stay wrapped in linen sheets by the hearth and catch their breaths, clothes haphazardly tossed to the door. the air is humid, thick with the scent of love and lust and forbidden desire.

FEMI: [whispering, anxiously tracing her fingers over his cheek in an attempt to soothe her worries] should you really be here? if anyone finds out about this, then...

capitano laughs low in his throat and pulls femi closer by the dip of her waist, laying his lips to her temple. she sighs dreamily, utterly wooed by her lover no thanks to the lascivious events from earlier in the evening playing like an indefinitely wound up music box in her mind.

CAPITANO: [confident, but reassuring] then? all they'll know is what i know. that you're absolutely bewitching. and that i'd have you all for myself.

he nuzzles her shoulder, softly biting the thin skin there. a show of unlikely playfulness from the harbinger who is equally feared as he is revered. it makes femi giggle, which subsequently makes capitano smile; a charming, boyish, youthful smile that femi thinks might cause her heart to seize in her ribs and burst with love.

FEMI: i missed you... a lot. you know? [lowering her gaze from capitano's own piercing one, teasing, yet timid in her admission] i always miss you, especially when you have to sneak out at dawn and leave me all alone and cold in my bed.

CAPITANO: [gaze softening, heart wilting] you miss me that much?

his words are accompanied with an endeared pinch of her cheek, an action that's met with a shy nod and petulant whine of his name. it's just so adorable that it excites him, and before he knows it, he's manoeuvring femi atop him to straddle his waist. the silk sheets slip like rosewater off her frame, and he's left to marvel at the sight of her before him.

CAPITANO: [breathlessly, reaching up to cradle her cheek in a balmy palm] it's a shame... i don't think words nor actions— touches by my fingertips nor by my kisses, could ever relay how much i miss you.

— happy ( belated ) birthday, dear heart @femivi 🪞🕯️🤍 welcome to your twenties! your beauty shines warmest from the love and kindness of your heart, and i am indeed ever so blessed to know it╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

[coconigiri]

florasaku 𓂃 flora ෆ oda sakunosuke

the 'ting ting!' of cannikins behind the bar. a gentle croon hiding beneath the static of an old speaker. it's a purple-grey night in late august and the air is thick in bar lupin where FLORA [freshly twenty-three, wearing a smile so radiant one would think a star to be hiding in her mouth] and ODA [moonshine handsome, stubble rugged from having gone a few days without shaving — it's what flora thinks makes him look most lovely] have come for a quaint, private celebration of the former's birthday.

FLORA: [gently, behind the porcelain rim of her glass] we've been coming here for years, now, haven't we?

ODA: [nods, smiling] indeed. i'll never forget how drunk you got your first time here — and yet, you could distinguish a glass of vodka from one of water when i tried sobering you up...

flora flusters at the mention of this anecdote, from one of their first dates together, and reaches out to cover his mouth with her palm.

FLORA: i thought i told you to forget about that!

ODA: forgive me, sweetheart. [gently cradles flora by the back of her head, leaning in to kiss her temple] you were a foolish drunk, but an undeniably endearing foolish drunk.

made shy by her lover's words, flora lowers her gaze and thumbs at the watch newly adorning her wrist — a birthday gift from him, unclasping it to read the words engraved on the back of the watch's face: "me and you, just us two."

FLORA: thank you, for this. for being here with me tonight. i wouldn't want to spend it any other way.

ODA: [smiling fondly] it's nothing to thank me for— i'll always be here, through everything.

he gently pulls flora over to his side by the leg of her chair and kisses the apple-swell of her cheek, then pressing his mouth to the crown of her head, sealing a promise of forever.

ODA: i'm not going anywhere. i swear it.

— happy birthday angel flora! my gorgeous friend with the most kind-hearted soul 💘 you are an absolute treasure to those who know you, and we all love you so much (◜ ˘ ◝ʃƪ) enjoy this new year of life around the sun! @fyodior

[coconigiri]

mirakei 𓂃 amira ෆ keigo takami

late august, and the evening is a swathe of smudged pomegranate pink and mandarin orange across the horizon. the breeze is soft, and the hum of the city below is nigh silent from high up on the building's rooftop.

AMIRA [20s, stylish in her office wear, but unassuming] stands by the railing with her eyes closed and a gentle smile as she holds a lemon buttercream cupcake in her palms, a single lit candle sticking out from the frosting. she makes a wish on it, and to the left of her, is her boss, KEIGO, [eternal, charming with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that's seemingly always present] who cheers and claps in celebration.

KEIGO: another year older, another year wiser. got any big wishes?

AMIRA: [grinning] hah, a raise would be nice.

KEIGO: [teasing] that can be arranged. you didn't have to wait for your birthday to roll around to ask, you know. [voice hushed in a whisper] but... that's not quite what i meant.

AMIRA: [rolling her eyes, poking her tongue out at him] what— are you gonna tell me that, "this is the year you'll find love, amira!" i'd be close to retiring if i had a dollar for every time someone told me that.

keigo gives her a look, one of faux shock wherein he raises his hand to his mouth, but before he can open his mouth to respond, amira continues.

AMIRA: [wistful, smiling down at the cupcake in her hands] at this point, i'm not entirely sure whether love's in the cards for me.

keigo pauses, taking a moment to observe the countenance on her face. a smile that screams of such yearning it nearly makes him ache.

KEIGO: don't be silly. love's in everyone's cards! [leaning closer to amira, nudging her shoulder] sometimes all it needs is a small nudge.

AMIRA: [wary, but smiling] you're up to something, aren't you?

the eternal twinkle in keigo's eyes shines brighter after he winks at her, and amira begins to wonder whether he knows more than he's letting on.

KEIGO: [raising his hands in defence] do you always have to think i'm plotting against you? i just think that maybe the right person has been under your nose all along.

AMIRA: [scoffing in an attempt to hide how flustered keigo's comments make her] okay, cupid, let's go back to the party before people think we've flown the coop or something.

she leads the way and keigo follows in tow, looking out at the sky before returning his gaze to amira. he can't seem to help how his lips carve themselves into a smile so fond that anyone would think him to be glancing at his lover.

— sweetest, happiest birthday to the girl who gives everyone the moon, but would never ask for it in return 🥺 we are all so grateful for your existence! @pastelle-rabbit 🐰🤍🐥

[coconigiri]

wriorae 𓂃 rae ෆ wriothesley

a picturesque clearing in the quietude of fontaine’s most secluded forest, drenched in the midday sun. birdsong. a summer breeze. two lovers in the midst of it all, on a picnic tarp with a now empty-wicker basket once teeming to the brim with finger sammies and teas and fruit tarts. WRIOTHESLEY [rugged and wolfish upon first glance] lays with his head in RAE’S [tender-eyed and soft faced, full of compassion] lap, twirling a rainbow rose betwixt his thumb and a forefinger. he shoots his lover a cheeky grin as he begins to pluck the petals, letting them fall onto the skirt of RAE’S dress.

WRIOTHESLEY: rae loves me... rae loves me not... rae loves me... rae loves me not...

RAE: [giggling, brushing his bangs out of his face affectionately] hey, cut it out!

wriothesley reaches the last petal of the rose, his smile widening into something more sincere and boyishly charming.

WRIOTHESLEY: [softly, whispering] rae loves me.

rae leans down and gingerly picks the flower stem from his hand, exchanging it for a kiss to the tip of his nose, a second to the apple of his cheek, a third to his smile.

RAE: of course i do...

wriothesley watches, curious and enamoured, as his lover begins to weave the flower stem into a small ring and take his hand in hers. she goes to slip it onto his ring finger, but hesitates, smiling shyly to herself and instead placing it onto his forefinger.

WRIOTHESLEY: [teasingly, his question tailed with a subtle sigh of hope] what is this, a marriage proposal? on your birthday?

rae blushes and shrugs, unable to fully meet wriothesley’s eyes, lest she evaporate from the bashfulness he always seems to make her feel.

RAE: [a tad anxiously, under her breath] perhaps, if—if you want it to be. [after a pause] maybe, it’s also a thank you... for being the best birthday gift i could have ever asked for.

wriothesley is quiet, lips parted in awe. what is there for him to say when rae has gone and stolen his voice from his throat, all the breath from his lungs?

— happy birthday my sweet sunshine @sleepyqinfei ♥︎ welcome to your twinkling twenties ! ! 🪄

[coconigiri]

kujax 𓂃 risu ෆ ajax

the soft strains of orchestral strings bleed from the dance hall, down the empty corridors of zapolyarny palace— empty, save for RISU [donning an opalescent gown, radiant as the pale moon] and AJAX [dashing in a snugly tailored suit] who run hand-in-hand to seek privacy in the shadows, out of sight of twinkling wall sconces and prying eyes. AJAX suddenly pulls RISU towards the wall, coaxing a squeak and a giggle out of her which he returns with a wide grin, followed by a tender kiss.

RISU: [muffled, falling into his touch] is this okay...? what if they notice we're gone?

AJAX only kisses RISU harder, more desperately, as if egged on by her concerns. he then begins to trail his lips along her jaw and down her neck, leaving faint mauve blossoms in their wake.

AJAX: [teasing] what if they notice we're gone? if they come looking for us, shall we give them a show?

RISU: [stuttering shyly, buckling weakly at the knees at the thought] i— uhm— i mean, i don't know...

RISU'S embarrassment only arouses AJAX more, evident by how he presses her up flush to the wall, sneaking a thigh in between hers. the love he feels for her makes him think he might simply dissolve into happiness.

AJAX: [adoringly, bumping his nose with hers] oh, milaya, always keeping your naughty little perversions to yourself, aren't you? frankly, i think it would be rather fitting to put on a show for the other harbingers... [bunching up the skirt of RISU'S dress] after all, i'd like to let them know who exactly it is you belong to.

— for my lover angel @tetsuskei 💝