softlycandescent

[softlycandescent]

i'm cooking up something big...

[softlycandescent]

mozart's lullaby

[ mozart x oc drabble] [ikemen vampire]

“You were amazing tonight!” Destiny giggled, taking her beloved’s hand in hers and interlocking their fingers together. She’d been all smiles since they’d gotten home from his concert. Even now, as they were settling down for bed, her excitement hadn’t worn down. “That last song was my favorite, you know. I thought I heard you composing that one, but you didn’t let me hear the whole thing until tonight!”

Mozart just grinned and lifted their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “That’s because I wanted it to be a surprise, just for you. Is that alright, my love?”

Pink dusted her freckles and she managed a slight nod. “I really liked it, I can only imagine how the rest of the audience felt.”

Mozart let go of Destiny’s hand and promptly wrapped her up in his arms. His embrace was warm and she couldn’t help but bury her face in his shoulder comfortably and wrap her arms around his neck affectionately. She couldn’t be close enough. 

“I’m so glad you were there,” leaning his head down, he nuzzled his cheek against her lilac hair. “Playing comes easier when I know you’re there to watch me.”

“I’ll always be there to watch you.” Pulling her face out from his shoulder, she pulls away just enough to make eye contact with him. “There is only one thing I love more than your music.”

“Hm? And what’s that?”

“You,” Destiny says with the silliest and biggest grin ever, dimples and all. Giggles followed soon after.

Her smile was extremely contagious. With a chuckle he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her softly, fleetingly. When he pulled away she was giggling again. 

“I love you so much, you know.” 

“I love you too, so much, meine liebe.” Mozart wraps his arms around his sleepy lover and drags her into the pile of pillows, finally. He recognized the look of fighting off sleep. When her eyes start drooping and her voice gets quiet like this he knows she is often on the verge of falling asleep. Try as she might to deny it.“But it’s getting late.”

With a kiss to her forehead and warm arms around her, she was powerless to argue. Instead she smiled sleepily. “But I don’t want to sleep.”

“That’s okay, just close your eyes, I want to cuddle.”

As soon as her eyes closed she heard soft humming accompanied by a gentle hand in her hair. Turns out, maybe she did want to sleep. If only her lover was beside her, that is, otherwise sleep wouldn’t come easily at all. But with promises of never leaving her side, how could she not fall into slumber and wait for tomorrow?

[softlycandescent]

cashmere and lavender

a love and deep space fanfiction

synopsis: just a cozy short drabble when zayne comes home late and convinces his sleepy stubborn girlfriend to rest.

content: snuggles, sleepy banter, sillies being silly

“Zayne..?” 

Iris opens her eyes slowly. Blinking back the bleariness she realizes she wasn’t woken up by reruns of The Golden Girls, but in fact, her boyfriend. Concerned and caring hazel eyes meet hers and in her sleepy haze all she can feel is warmth.

“I’m sorry, my darling, did I wake you?”

Iris climbs off the couch, rubbing her eyes. The throw pillows she was laying on toppled to the floor with a soft thud. The throw blanket soon follows.

“You didn’t wake me, I was already up!”

“Your sleepy expression says otherwise,” Zayne sighs, his thumb caressing under her eyes. When he noticed the obvious dark circles he frowned. “Were you up waiting for me, again?” 

“You caught me,” Iris mumbled sleepily, gazing up at Zayne with tiredness lingering in her violet eyes. “Can you blame me? I wanted to see you as soon as you got home.”

Zayne exhales and envelopes her into a hug, lifting her off her feet. Iris wraps her arms around his neck and kicks her feet slightly. For a moment they just existed like that, the only thing filling the dark room was the light from the television. 

“You missed me so much you watched our show without me?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t watch ahead,” Iris adjusted her arms, feeling herself starting to slip out of his arms sluggishly. “It was hard to stay awake.”

“You could’ve gone to bed first, I don’t want you missing out on sleep because of me.”

Iris shook her head. “I don’t sleep the same when you’re not next to me, regardless.”

With a quiet chuckle, Zayne changed his hold on Iris, now he was basically carrying her. Her arms haphazardly looped around his neck all the same, but he was holding her back and legs. He was holding her impossibly close to her as he strided to their room. 

“You didn’t have to-”

“Shh…” Zayne shook his head. “Never assume I don’t love to carry you.”

Flush creeped up on her cheeks and nose, dusting over her freckles in a pretty shade of pink. 

She didn’t have a sassy comeback to that, instead she just melted into the blankets as he laid her on the bed. Before she can think better of it she’s raising her hands high up and is attempting to pull him back down to her, eyes half-lidded. 

“Patience, my love.” Zayne’s back was to her now. Though he was hers in all definitions of the word, she averted her eyes when he started to strip off his clothes from the day and put on his sleepwear instead. Specifically, the sleepwear that matched hers, cat print and all. It was supposed to be a silly joke during the holidays, something he wouldn’t ever wear. She was so sure of that, she even thought he might try to throw them out when she wasn’t looking. 

And yet, he makes it a point to wear them when he noticed she was wearing hers. 

“Zayne.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t have any more patience.”  She grumbles into his pillow. “Pleaseee.”

That earned her a rich laugh before the bed dipped. “That so?”

With a tired mumble Iris wrapped her arms around Zayne’s waist and tried to drag him to lay down with her. Her grip and force was weak, probably from fatigue, but he complied anyways, tucking her head onto his chest and affectionately patting her head. 

“I missed you, oh you’re so cozy..”

“I know, I really missed you too.”

“Do you have anywhere to be tomorrow?”

“Yes and it’s of utmost importance.” He pauses, his lips quirking into a smile before he can let her fall for his tricks. Unlike him, she didn’t catch on as easily. Which was frankly adorable considering how often she was pulling such tricks, herself. “I suspect my girlfriend will occupy the better half of my day off.”

With a satisfied and unworried smile, Iris nuzzles her face against him, her nose meeting the smooth fabric of his shirt. Her eyes slip closed as she holds him slightly tighter. “You’re right and tomorrow we-”

“We’ll be together,” Zayne promises, taking one of her hands and kissing the palm of it tenderly. “If we start talking about plans right now, you’ll be up for the better half of the night.

“No way,” Iris argues, squeezing Zayne’s hand lightly. She was too tired to do anything more, despite what she said. “I’m not tired at all. In fact I could talk all night regardless.” 

“Shh…” Zayne moves his hands to start running through her hair. She was done for. Her eyes started closing again, and in moments like this she knows that she is powerless to do anything else but melt back into his arms. Where she belongs. “We’ll have an amazing day tomorrow, but before that we need to get some rest.”

Iris made a non committal noise from the back of her throat. Not quite agreeing, not quite disagreeing with him. Then again, most of what she said was gibberish when she was sleepy. 

“I’ll listen to you, doctor.” Iris gets quiet for a minute, rubbing her nose into the soft fabric of Zayne’s pajama shirt. If he had work or plans that took up tomorrow she would cling to him and insist on staying awake as long as possible with him. But there was no need, they could wake up and spend the day together. “You’re so cozy..”

“I know, you said that already, sweetheart.”

“I love you so much.” 

A kiss lands at the top of her hair, warm breath tickling her face. “I love you too, Iris. So much. Get some sleep, silly.”

“Okay..”

Iris wasn’t sure when, but by the time she fell asleep her hands had become tangled with Zayne’s. And they both slept through the night and late into the morning. 

[softlycandescent]

Mozart come get your drink before I drink it first 😗

I’ll tag some friends later hehe

Found a cute lil picrew

@aquagirl1978 @floydsteeth @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @candied-boys @lulu-the-smol-floof

[softlycandescent]

About Des

Taking the Stage in Paris, France, 2024

Destiny Violet quickly finds her life turned upside down for the first time when one of her friends posts a video of her singing at an open mic night. After many record deals and many performances later, she’s a star. Adoring fans, which she affectionately calls “Violets”, are truly the biggest contributors that eventually land her in France, the crown jewel of her Europe Tour. 

Her first destination, her first ever tour in Europe, she was over the moon. 

And yet she felt so complicated. Her music didn’t feel like her, she felt like she was making music that people wanted to hear. She wanted to be honest and raw with her lyrics, but she knew that doing that could also mean killing her career. 

And so, despite the storm of emotions swirling in her chest, she arrives for her soundcheck. But as soon as she opens the big door, ready to prepare for what could be the biggest concert of her life, what she finds waiting isn’t the concert hall she was expecting

It was a music room, a very beautiful music room that made her feel like she went back in time. She was enchanted, she truly wanted to spend the rest of her day here, the piano was calling her, and she hadn’t played in years. 

Settling into Le Comte’s Mansion, The 19th Century

Destiny, to be honest, didn’t know what to expect upon discovering she time traveled. The fact that she’s gone back to the late nineteenth century was crazy enough, but to be in a mansion accompanied by some of the most memorable people in history? That was a whole new thing.

Oh, and they’re vampires.

She was conflicted; did she want to leave, she didn’t belong here at all. 

However, she also has never felt so comfortable and in one place, she felt like for the first time in her life she could stop moving and just take things as they come.

Too bad she was on a timer.

Whether she wanted to or not, she would have to leave once her time was up. 

But the thing is, she wasn’t sure she had the heart.

To make the most of her time, she agreed to stay at the mansion. She didn't have anywhere else to go and she really didn't want to be anywhere else. She also didn't want to feel like a freeloader or like she was taking advantage of anyone, so she decided to help Sebastian with anything he needed. As it turned out it ended up being mostly cooking and gardening with a few other tasks tossed in there. Tasks she was absolutely willing to do.

In between her duties she busies herself with trying to figure out what her inner voice actually is with her music, since she doesn't have the expectations of fame here.

And to be honest, more times than just once, it brings her to the music room.

[softlycandescent]

I AM NOT OKAY

Cackling in the corner waiting for @softlycandescent to wake up and see the new Zayne content

[softlycandescent]

𝑜𝑏𝑒𝑦 𝑚𝑒 𝑛𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑠

coming soon!

𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑛

[softlycandescent]

lucette anulan

Accidentally summoning yourself to the Devildom must've been a first in the history books. And well, Lucette had been known for being the first one to experience peculiar things; take her magic for instance. She was the first one in her family in generations to have even an ounce of power, let alone how much she does, and yet it landed her in the most unfortunate situations.

Yet this time she can't help but feel blessed for her magic.

partner: lucifer

occupation: R.A.D. exchange student

species: half witch/ half human

[softlycandescent]

𝙽𝙰𝚅𝙸𝙶𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽

current fixation: love and deepspace

🫧 M A S T E R L I S T O F F I C S 🫧

obey me

tears of themis

ikemen vampire

[softlycandescent]

winter reverie ☀︎

On a cold night, Xiaoxi and Vyn find a way to make it a little cozier.

Winter nights weren’t my favorite, the way the cold would settle on my bare skin. The fuzzy socks on my feet were worn and a gift from a distant holiday and on the verge of falling apart. Even with trails of cotton leading right back to me, I couldn’t help but feel warm watching Vyn light the nearby fireplace, and I don’t think it was the fire.

“Sorry it took a moment for me to get the fire going, love,” Vyn turns and brushes his fingers along my arm, sending a violent chill through my body. “You’re really cold, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I press my lips into a flat line to ward off the incoming chills. I am cold, but he doesn’t need to fret over me, the fire weakly crackling at the center of the room is enough. “I’m really not that cold.”

Something soft falls onto my arms and immediately recognizes it as Vyn’s beige cardigan. I put it on properly and it flops past my fingertips. “Is that better, Xiaoxi?”

I flap the sleeves against his chest playfully, “Yes, much, thank you. Your sweaters are so much softer than mine, so cozy.” 

“I think it suits you,” Vyn’s hand cups my cheek and I lean into it, closing my eyes. His thumb traces over a faded scar. When I feel his lips make contact with my nose I can;t help but let out a giggle, no matter how many times he does it it never fails to make me giddy with a heart full of love.

Then he pulls away and I resist the urge to whine and reach out for him again. His eyes find mine against the glow of the fireplace. “Vyn-”

“May I have this dance, my dear?” His hand reaches for my mind and he presses a kiss to my knuckles. The way he’s bowed made me feel so important, so special. 

Of course I accepted, and the soft smile he gave me made my heart swell. Reflections from the fire danced across his glasses and drew me in. The way he held my hand was so delicate as he guided it to his shoulder, the material of his shirt felt so smooth under my palm. I slowly brought my other hand to his other shoulder. 

As per usual, I stood on his feet, he always told me he didn’t want my legs to ache from standing on my toes to reach him. Besides there was a certain tenderness behind our fuzzy socks overlapping in a messy splay of colors.

Vyn’s hands travelled down to my sides and when he held me it was like my anxieties from the day had been washed away by a gentle breeze. Even when we started to sway back and forth and in short steps across the floor. 

There was no music, no beat to match. But to be honest, I never liked dancing with him to music, it would distract me far too much. Honestly, I preferred to just focus on him. 

“You’re a really good dancer, Vyn,” I whisper, my head falling into the space between his neck and shoulder.

“You’ve said that before, but I prefer this to everything else.”

“Even when I doze off?”

“I’ll carry you to bed then.”

“Vyn?

“Mhm?

“I really love you.”

“I really love you too.”

[softlycandescent]

May I have this dance?  ☀︎

Xiaoxi prepared a surprise for her students, who missed dressing up. But she was the one who ended up surprised.

Ms. Xiaoxi goes above and beyond for her students. It wasn’t an opinion, it was ore of a fact. Any of the other teachers she worked with, who doubted her abilities, quickly came around to that fact. How could they not? Any child who has been in her classroom for even a minute absolutely fell in love with her.

Every moment in her class was special, and well, today was no different.

It’s not Halloween or a special occasion really. 

But, her students worked so hard, so she enlisted the help of a few fellow teachers who decided to stay late. She’d gotten so engrossed in her work that when Vyn came by her classroom to pick her up, she hadn’t even heard him come in. Her hands were wrapped in party streamers she was attempting to hang up.

“My love, what’s all of this?” Vyn’s voice was soft and she could feel his breath on the side of her face. He wrapped an arm around her waist and settled behind her comfortably. 

Xiaoxi couldn’t help but smile as she pinned one end of the party streamer to the wall and turned a little so she could see Vyn’s face. Her smile only grew wider. “I’m just setting something up for my kids. they said they missed dressing up and stuff from Halloween, so I thought, maybe they would like another opportunity to dress up. What do you think?”

“What is the opportunity, what have you planned?”

Xiaoxi’s eyes sparkled, she would never get over how interested Vyn was in everything she did. She turned back to her streamer, pinning another few spots on it. Now it finally was out of her hands. She kept her hands on it though, an excuse to avoid his gaze a little longer out of embarrassment. “Well, how about a costume party, with some snacks.”

She turned around then to see Vyn’s reaction.

His features softened and he took her hands in his gently. He helped her off the chair she’d been standing on so that her feet were flat on the ground now. But, now she has to make more effort to look at him, she never minded though.

“What a wonderful idea,” he took the opportunity and pressed a kiss to the top of her scalp. “Are you excited?”

She nodded excitedly, a smile still very much present on her face. The only change in her expression was the warmth that danced on her cheeks. “Of course,” she squeezed his hands in hers. “You know how much I like to dress up!”

Vyn chuckled, the sound was sweet against her ear. “That I do. Although, you have never needed to put in any extra effort to be beautiful to me.”

Xiaoxi jumped with a light gasp, her face flushing even more. She’d been so surprised she tore her hands from Vyn’s unknowingly. “That’s not fair, you can’t say things like that all of a sudden, I-”

Instead of reaching for her hands again, Vyn pulled her close, so that her cheek pressed against his chest. “I meant every word,” Vyn murmured. 

She’d started to make a sound of protest, but instead she hummed contently into his embrace, moving her own arms to wrap around him. “I know,” she said lightly, settling further into him.

After staying like that for a while longer, they separated and decided to work on the rest of the decorating together.

 It was while they were tying a few last balloons that Xiaoxi finally told him what her costume was going to be. And the smile he directed at her following that was enough to make her heart leap out of her chest again. 

—

The evening of the actual costume party, or well, more like a costume dance, Xiaoxi saw a lot of lovely costumes. 

A few of her students had come in their costumes from halloween, that they loved that much. Other’s came with one that was brand new. Regardless though, whether she'd seen them or not, they were all equally wonderful too. But, that was entirely because all of her students were smiling. 

She smiled to herself, she would give anything for her students to be this happy all the time. Maybe she should do more stuff like this. 

Xiaoxi dressed up, just like she told Vyn about. Her costume was a princess, which was obvious by the simple tiara on her head and the long yellow dress she wore. Even in the dim-warm lights of her classroom, the sparkles on her dress made her feel like a real fairytale princess.

Which, her students definitely had told her, too. One of them even asked who her fairy godmother was. 

Or, one of them asked where her prince was.

She giggled and waved her hand at that one. She’d been prepared to tell that very student that she wasn’t accompanied by a prince tonight. 

Suddenly, the students that occupied their desks with snacks gasped and went to point behind Xiaoxi. But then quickly settled back down for some reason. 

Quirking her eyebrow, she was tempted to explain that pointing is rude, not to point at someone-

But then she felt someone tap her shoulder, and it sent a familiar wave of goosebumps along the bare skin of her arm. So she whipped head around. And immediately she gasped. 

Vyn was here, or well, should she call him Prince Vyn instead?

He looked like a proper fairytale prince, and matched her effortlessly. She was finding it hard to tear her eyes from him. 

Time felt like it was frozen as he took her hand in his, but it was much different. His hands were a little chiller, the smooth fabric of his gloves brushed against her skin.

He brought her hand to his lips and pressed his lips to her knuckles, looking up at her. The kiss was so soft, so gentle, she hardly knew it was there. She might not have even felt it if not for the way her complete attention was on him. Behind his glasses, his golden eyes were filled with pure adoration.

Their moment was briefly itnerupted by one of her female students, who screeched,“Dance with her, prince!”

When they turned their attention to her students they were looking at them expectantly. This was what Xiaoxi gets for reading every fairytale princess story she could, huh? She didn’t mind though. Her students were cheering her on, she knew it. 

She couldn’t help but wonder what class would be like next time. 

Xiaoxi turned her attention back to Vyn, who looked like he was waiting for her to meet his eyes. He smiled, his lips met her knuckles again and she had to fight the urge to squeal. The difference was, this time he was bowed, like a real prince.

“May I have this dance, princess?”

Xiaoxi’s face lit up and her cheeks warmed again. She manages to find her voice when she gazes at him this time. Her lips quirk into a sweet smile, the type of smile that Vyn has rambled about in the past. “Of course, my prince.”

Some of her students clapped, while others gushed about how there was a “real life princess and prince” who were about to dance just for them. Xiaoxi was giddy, so giddy. It seemed to rub off on Vyn, too, because when he stood properly, he snuck her a nose-kiss.

Though it could hardly be counted as a sneaky kiss when Xiaoxi reacts by giggling like a schoolgirl over it. Though, when didn’t she when it came to Vyn and all of his affection. Every bit of it.

Vyn kept that on hand of hers in his, gently. His other arm wrapped around her waist firmly, keeping her close to him. They’d assumed this position before, this was far from their first time dancing together. So Xiaoxi knew she had to put her hand on his shoulder. 

And even if she understood the dance well, she was perfectly happy with letting him take the lead. The notes of the music she’d started to play through her bluetooth speaker when the party started began to cycle back to the beginning of her playlist. She’d almost forgotten about it. The soft notes of the music felt perfect right now. One of her favorite classical pieces was playing and it felt right. 

When they started swaying back and forth and flowing with the music, she could tell VYn felt the same way. 

As it turned out though, one dance turned into two, then two into three. 

Xiaoxi’s students had to interrupt her dance, a few younger boys this time, tugging on the fabric of her dress. It was enough to make Xiaoxi avert their attention to them. 

The party was almost over, she supposed, so she decided to give her students their dance, for a little while. And while she’d done that, Vyn wanded over to some of her other students and hung out with them. They adored him, almost as much as Xiaoxi, herself.

The end of the celebration came quickly, and as soon as the last parent picked up the last student, Xiaoxi closed her classroom door and started to take down some of the decorations to store away in a box.

“You did a really good job today, darling.”

Xiaoxi turns her head and smiles at Vyn brightly, “Thank you, and thank you for coming to see me!”

Vyn, who was leaning against a desk, steps towards her and cradles her cheek in his hand, “How could I not? We were planning on getting together anyways, right?”

“It made me happy, I felt like an actual princess,” Xiaoxi giggled and leaned her cheek further into the palm of his hand. His hand was much warmer now, and his gloves were gone. He must’ve set them aside. He did know that likes the feeling of his hands on her face like this, without gloves or anything in between.

“You definitely are like an actual princess to me, Xiaoxi.” He chuckled, making sure to kiss her cheek. “You’re…so beautiful.”

“What about you, you look gorgeous!” Xiaoxi exclaimed, putting her own hand on Vyn’s face, thumb caressing the mole under his left eye. The action made his eyes widen slightly before relaxing into her touch, leaning into it. She swore she might’ve heard his breath hitch, could I have been her imagination. “I feel very lucky right now!

With a soft chuckle he leaned close enough to where his breath fanned over her face, tickling her eyelashes. “As do I, my rose. You make me feel so lucky.”

Without thinking, Xiaoxi closes the distance. Pressing her lips against Vyn’s softly and kissing him gently. Vyn hummed and kissed her just as softly, bringing his hand to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and then letting his hand go back to her cheek.

Even after they separated, neither of them moved their hands and stayed close, every breath mingling together.

“I love you,” Xiaoxi murmured, leaning her head on his shoulder tiredly. It was getting kind of late for her now, considering all of the preparations she’d done. 

“I love you so much, more than words can say.” Vyn whispered into her hair. Xiaoxi sleepily giggled against his shirt and wrapped her arms around him tightly. “You’re everything to me.”’

Later, Vyn would take her back to her house, giving her a proper goodnight kiss, but the night lingered in his mind more than necessary. A smitten smile not once leaving his face.

[softlycandescent]

Near and Far ☀︎  

Xiaoxi meets one of Dr. Richter’s patients and for the first time she considers that his occupation might be dangerous.

Buttons from his coat fall into the grass unceremoniously, drops of blood following directly after. 

“Dr. Richter!!” Xiaoxi could hear the echo of her shriek when Vyn put himself in between herself and Kristie. Her breath felt like it was just stolen, no, kicked from her lungs. The sight of the wound on Vyn’s arm made her heart absolutely sink, even moreso considering it was likely meant to be etched into her skin. “D-Dr. Richter! You’re bleeding!” 

“A mere flesh wound, never mind that.” His voice was firm, yet still held the same softness. The warmth in his voice always remained and it always reached her. Xiaoxi didn’t have the luxury to fixate on it, her eyes were flitting between Vyn and Kristie. She wasn’t sure where to look. “Look after yourself first.”

Then, in one fluid, swift motion, he parried the blade from Kristie’s hand. Then with the syringe in his other hand, he expertly injected a needle into her arm. Kristie is quickly overpowered and she crumbles to the ground without a struggle, her eyes slipping shut. 

“You showed up, y-you…at just the right time,” Xiaoxi gestures wildly with her hands to the blade that is presently laid in the grass meters away from them. Her eyebrows furrowed. “How did you–”

“I was worried, so I made my way here as soon as I finished looking after Kristie’s medical reports.” For the first time since he’d arrived, which wasn’t that long honestly, he faced her properly and smiled.

That very smile usually was enough to calm the storm inside of her chest. Yet, it only made it fester. She frowned deeply, her eyes traveling back to his wound.

“You’re still bleeding, y-your wound!” Xiaoxi’s eyes were wide, her lips quivered. This was her fault. She had to fix this, it’s the least she could do, right? “We need to take care of it, like…right now!” 

Vyn blinked, his eyes lingered on hers for just a moment too long, his eyes widened for just a moment before he followed her gaze to his arm. “Is it really that bad?” He lifts his arm to his eye-level, accessing it. “It looks worse than it actually is. I am a medical doctor, you know. We have to wait for the staff to take away Kristie, I am sure the bleeding will stop by then.”

Xiaoxi gingerly places her fingers on his arm, a few inches away from the wound. Her touch was featherlight. He’d already been hurt, on her account, she didn’t need to make it worse with her own touch. “Please, won’t you have it checked out? I can wait here, for the staff, I mean. You’re hurt.” 

“My absence put you in danger in the first place.” Vyn’s voice lowered, his eyes darkening. “I will not make the same mistake twice.”

Xiaoxi bites her lip. “Then…will you, at least, let me dress your wound? Please?”

After his hum of approval, Xiaoxi lightly tugged him down to sit in the grass before dropping her purse into the grass, a bit too quickly, all of the contents scattered. She laid her hands flat on the ground, feeling for something, anything. 

Luckily, though, her hands brushed over the one thing that always makes the fabric of her purse lose its regular shape. A lovely first aid kid, for on the go. Her students are so clumsy, so she invested in a few of these. You never know when something bad might happen.

She just didn't think she would be using it under such circumstances. 

Xiaoxi set before him properly, now. She leaned close to his arm and her ips tugged into a frown. Just where was she supposed to start?

Wiping the blood away? Yeah that sounded right. She really didn’t want to ask him for help, that would be embarrassing, she would seem incompetent. 

Xiaoxi fetched the smooth cloth from her kit and wiped the blood away. The entire piece is consumed by red. Blood alone, the sight of it, makes her heart sink. Nobody deserves to hurt. Least of all Vyn, her heartstrings felt like they were being tugged without any remorse.

“Does…does it hurt?” Xiaoxi asked hesitantly through her own labored breaths. “Oh god, I’m sorry if I am, I’ll–”

Xiaoxi lifts her eyes from the, now red, cloth. What she didn’t expect to find was to see Vyn’s face so close. He smelled like flowers, especially roses. His gold eyes, up this close, she couldn’t but feel intoxicated. Like she was under his spell or something. 

With his free hand, on the side that was, of course, not injured, he pats the top of her hand. She hadn’t even noticed the way she was trembling until the warmth of his hand seeped into hers and quelled any ongoing tremors. And, of course, made warmth bloom across her face.

“It’s okay, you’re okay.” Vyn speaks softly. “It does not hurt, so you don’t need to be overly careful.”

Finally, Xiaoxi finds the willpower to look away from his gaze. She needed to make sure he’s all patched up. Hardly the time for daydreaming, she decides. With great remorse she pulled her hand from under his with a pout. In her bag she fetched some bandages.

“Okay,” Xiaoxi exhales shakily, wrapping the wound as best she could. Which admittedly, wasn’t the best of her ability. Her mind was elsewhere and her hands were shaking again. The bandage was secure on his arm but it looked horribly messy. Like really bad. “Please…I didn’t do the best job, so, please, go to the infirmary.”

“All right.” Vyn says it, like it’s a promise. 

With that, he stands up. Xiaoxi just sits there, looking up at him with a hopeless look. Before she can do much else, like apologize, or thank him, the staff comes to escort Kristie. And, well, as promised, Xiaoxi joins them promptly after collecting the contents of her purse.

When Vyn and her finally separate, she finds that the burning in her cheeks never dissipated. When she looked back at him, at his retreating figure, all she could think about was how he smelled like roses, how potent his eyes looked up close, how he was willing to step in between her and Kristie..

All of it felt like so much. 

She would thank him properly, she decided. 

She just hoped a patch of cookies might get her point across efficiently. 

Later, Xiaoxi was at her desk, catching up on papers that she’d missed after getting home later than she’d planned after everything. Or, that was the plan, but then it turned into her researching deserts she was sure Vyn would like. That might make up for the wound on his arm.

But of course, that turned into her reading articles about Psychiatry, horror stories, starting much like today but ending far differently. It was a wonder she fell asleep at her desk at all.

What she hadn’t expected was to wake up to the telltale ringtone of her phone, a facetime request. From Vyn. 

She answered after the second ring. 

“Is this not a good time? If you’re tired, please rest.” Vyn’s watchful eyes scanned at her state through the screen of his phone. He could tell she must’ve already fallen asleep at her desk, not the first time. Her black hair was tousled and her eyes looked so sleepy. Adorable. 

“I’m okay,” Xiaoxi yawned, but covered her mouth before she could reveal that it was the case, that she truly was tired. 

“You may catch a cold if you fall asleep on your desk,” His eyes gazed into hers, even though the separation of her smartphone screen she could see the worry in his eyes. 

After everything he had gone through, he was the one worried? Shouldn’t she be the one fussing over him?

“Dr. Richter, I think your job is dangerous, y-you should be more careful, does that kind of thing happen all of the time, are you okay?” Xiaoxi was frantic, so worried. Her breath even hitched at the end. Her lips twisting into a frown.

“My profession is dangerous? Why do you say that? Did you see something?”

“I…” Xiaoxi blushed, looking in the other direction. “I read something…online…an article.”

“That article could be exaggerating, Psychiatry is not as dangerous as you believe it is. That article discusses the minority, most patients aren’t aggressive. Please do not worry.” And how could she worry, now? He smiled at her, so reassuringly. So sweetly. “However I am happy to see you are this concerned about me.”

“Aside from today, no other patients have attempted to harm me,” Vyn continues. 

“I’m sorry, if I hadn’t wanted to go on that walk, maybe-”

“No need to apologize, I told you that I would gladly shield you from harm.” Xiaoxi didn’t miss the way his voice got softer again, how his entire face softened. 

In turn, Xiaoxi’s face turned bright red, though. She attempted to cover half of her face from Vyn, though. It did not go unnoticed. 

“You are blushing,” Vyn leaned close to the camera, smiling, again. A bit wider, actually. It only made her want to hide even more. “It appears I have a special place in your heart.”

Xiaoxi’s heart willed her to express that, yes, he does. Yet her lips wouldn’t follow suit. Instead her breath involuntarily hitched and she averted her eyes. Instead of teasing her further, he assured her it was a jest.

Is it ridiculous she wished it wasn’t?

“It’s getting late, you should get some sleep..” 

“Wait…Dr. Richter..!”

“Hmm?”

“Sleep well, okay?”

She heard a chuckle from his end. “You too, goodnight.”

“Nighty-night.”

The call ended, and Xiaoxi could finally say that her worries ceased for the night.

[softlycandescent]

Moment of Rest

Xiaoxi has been neglecting her rest in favor of working a little harder, her boyfriend really just wants her to take care of herself. So he helps.

Xiaoxi was working herself too hard lately.

She truly couldn’t help it, the beginning of the school year brought piles of paperwork and preparations. She didn’t mind though, planning lessons ahead of time in her empty classroom was calming though. All of the other teachers had gone home when the last of their students left so Xiaoxi didn’t anticipate anyone disturbing her.

Which is, exactly, why she picked now to get a head start on her lessons.

And get a head start, she did. The rest of September and October were successfully planned and revised accordingly, complete with sparkly cat stickers and marks from her yellow highlighter.

Sleepiness overtook her and the sun coming in past her window offered her enough warmth to feel cozy without her sweater. It washed over her like a hug from the sun itself. 

And so, she hummed, resting on her arms. Her pen dangled in her hand clumsily, just above the papers her arms rested on. 

She would write the next line after she closed her eyes for a minute. 

And well, it took a little over a minute for her breaths to even out to small snores. 

Ten minutes later, her phone rang and she didn’t wake. 

Another five later, another ring. She just buried her face further into her forearms, tossing her hair and successfully getting slightly more comfortable.

Finally a while later, the door to her classroom opened softly. She didn’t stir for that. She did, however, stir when she felt a light fabric over her shoulders. It was soft against her bare shoulders and it conquered the goosebumps that were littering her arms. 

“Darling, is this where you were this whole time?” A soft, velvety voice tempted her back, yet she only groaned in response. “You’ll catch a cold if you sleep over here.”

Xiaoxi fluttered her eyes open sleepily, her loving boyfriend’s figure came into view. His hand lightly caressed her arms over the cardigan he’d laid there. She wore a confused look and she slowly lifted her head out of her arms. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting this afternoon.” 

Vyn chuckled, “Good morning, or shall I say, evening, my love.” moving a strand of hair behind her ear and resting his hand on her cheekbone. Tiredly, she leaned into his touch. “My meeting ended hours ago. I was worried that when you did not pick up your calls, Missy had not seen you yet, either.”

“I’m sorry, I was only closing my eyes for a minute, I didn’t hear your calls.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Vyn reasons. He gently moved her from her desk so that she was standing before him. “Why don’t we get you home, you look exhausted.”

It wasn’t as warm, she realized, and it was darker. Yet Vyn’s touch, though usually cold, brought a sense of warmth over her again. She smiled, looking up at him. Her eyes were watering and her vision was still bleary, but she could see him return the smile wholeheartedly. 

Then he moved aside for a minute, Xiaoxi occupied herself with fixing the strands of hair that stood up and flattening the wrinkles in her skirt.

“I still have to clean up here, though,” Xiaoxi frowned, about to go back to sit at her desk, to tidy up. That’s when she noticed Vyn standing in front of it, her desk successfully reordered and organized. “You rascal, you didn’t have to clean up for me.”

Vyn moved back to her, adjusting his cardigan on her arms so it was fitted to her properly. Or, as much as it could, the ends of the sleeves still ended far past her fingertips. It was adorable, precious. 

“It is no trouble,” Vyn tapped her nose with his forefinger, his features twisting into a wide smile when she giggled at the small act of affection. His eyes didn’t hide his worry though. “Besides, you look like you’re going to fall over right now. Have you been resting?”

Vyn offered his hand for her to take and she does. They walk out of the classroom after she’s put her purse over her shoulder and locked the door after them.

“Kind of,” Xiaoxi responds after a little too long. “It’s the start of the year, you know how that is, sweetheart.”

Vyn hums, guiding her to the passenger seat of his car when they find it in the parking lot. Like a gentleman, he opens the door for her. She shook her head with a grin when he did that. She didn’t need to say it made her feel special, he could tell by the way her eyes dazzled each time. Maybe a part of him continued to do it just to see the way she smiled when he did so.

“Still,” He said when they were both successfully seated in his car. As soon as the car started, he was quick to turn on the heat for her. The cardigan was thin, it likely didn’t fight the cold as much as he hoped. “You should be taking care of yourself. You need to take care of my _.”

Xiaoxi leaned her head against the seatbelt, “Okay. Thank you for caring for me so much, Vyn.”

Vyn shook his head, “Let’s get back home, so that I can take care of you, okay?”

With a soft huff of air she nods in agreement, reaching her hand to lay over Vyn’s gently. He immediately interlocks their fingers and lifts the back of her hand to his lips, leaving a chaste kiss there.

The rest of the ride was calm and silent, but it was a comfortable silence. 

Once they’d gotten back, Xiaoxi quelled the worries of her roommate, who also told her to rest more. She didn’t feel bad rolling her eyes at her. But she was grateful that the most important people in her life were so worried, it warmed her heart.

The rest of the night went by too quickly, though she did waste a part of it asleep on the cold wood of her desk at school. 

Vyn and Xiaoxi ate bowls of fruit on the couch while she laid in his arms. The movie on the television was one of her favorites, a ghibli film, but it was of no interest to her. Her bowl was half empty when her eyes started to grow heavy again, her head dropping to Vyn’s shoulder and facing away from the movie.

“Vyn,” Xiaoxi mumbled into the fabric of his shirt. He readjusts his hold on her.

“Hm? What is it?” He moves his head, softly murmuring into her ear, leaving a soft kiss to her temple in his wake.

“I’m sleepy, can we finish the movie tomorrow?”

With a gentle nod and a chuckle, he sits up, taking her with him. He gingerly lifts her up and into his arms.One arm firmly under her knees, and the other cradling her back. Xiaoxi buried her face in his shirt and didn’t protest. 

If she wasn’t so exhausted she would be totally red-faced and blushing, insisting to not carry her.

But right now she was too tired so up until he set her in bed and leaned into him. Even then, her hand clung to his shirt, not wanting to let him go. 

“Don’t go.” Xiaoxi reaches out her hand and weakly holds onto Vyn’s wrist. He looked, to her, as if he might’ve been about to retreat.

“I won’t,” Vyn says, letting her lightly let go of his hand. Then he lays next to her, threading his fingers through her hair. “I promise. You’ll rest now, right?”

“Mhm,” Xiaoxi immediately scoots closer, resting her head on his chest eagerly. Her favorite position. “I love you.”

With a soft laugh, a genuine one that lightly shakes his shoulders, he tugs her even closer and snuggles with her. “I love you too. Rest well, sweetness.”

Xiaoxi sleeps pleasantly alongside Vyn that night.

[softlycandescent]

snowfallen dance ☾

Aurora and Artem spend their evening dancing in the snow.

“The performance was beautiful, Artem!” Aurora turned to him as soon as they walked outside of the venue, her eyes were sparkling and her smile was so bright. “Clara was amazing, the way she moved, I couldn’t help but feel one with her! She did beautifully~!” 

Aurora slipped her hand from Artem’s with a giggle and she twirled away from him, a perfect pirouette. Artem could only watch in awe, reveling in her beauty against the snowfall. 

“It was spectacular,” Artem said, finally. “I think we should come to more performances, I had a good time.”

Aurora’s smile brightened, if that were even possible. “Me too. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend tonight…”

Snow fell around her, landing in her brilliant red hair. Artem walked closer and moved some of her fringe from her eyes, now he could see her mismatched eyes perfectly. He smiled wholesomely. 

“Hey, Artem? May I ask a foolish question?”

“Nothing you ask could ever be foolish, _.”

“Then…would you dance with me?” Aurora extends her hand properly, an invitation. 

Against the frigid air, her fingertips trembled, or, that also could’ve been her nervousness. But with a sweet smile, a smile that was so warm Aurora was positive Artem would melt all of the snow, Artem took her hand in his. For a minute her hand warmed in his. His skin against her skin was enough to stop the trembling and chase away the cold.

He wordlessly guided her other hand to rest on his shoulder before letting go, then held her other hand tightly. 

“Of course I would dance with you, of course.” Artem’s voice carried to her ears, a loving whisper. His voice made it sound like he was in love with the concept of dancing with her. Which he is. Dancing with Aurora is like letting her take you to her world, seeing things through her eyes. Nobody can dance like she does, Artem decides. She is just like a graceful fairy.

Artem places his hand gently on her hip, pulling her close to him. They’ve been this close before, often even, and yet both of their faces are tickled red.

But with a tune that they both know clear as day, the song of their hearts you might say, Aurora and Artem dance under the watchful gaze of the moon. Snow falls softly into their hair, yet they glide across the pavement in their own private dance. Aurora does lots of bold spins and twirls, but Artem is sure to hold onto her and catch her properly every time. 

The way Artem is able to keep up with her and match the same tune as her without asking, makes Aurora’s heart flutter. Fluttering so much, she fears it would fly out of her chest and into his hands. Actually, in that case, he would literally have her heart. Now, that wouldn’t be so bad.

After what feels far too fast, Artem pulls her to his chest fully, burying her face in the fabric of his coat and scarf. By now, they’d stopped dancing and just embraced. Aurora’s hands clasped around Artem’s lower back. Artem mirrored her own.

“You’re cold,” Artem murmur’s against her hair before kissing her scalp gingerly. 

“I am.” Aurora admits bashfully, hiding her face further into his jacket, cheek pressed firmly over his heart. She could hear his rapid, out of control, heartbeat. 

With a soft chuckle, Artem unwinds his scarf from around his neck. It’s cashmere and dyed a lovely baby blue. He gently pulls away from her just enough to wrap it around her. She looks up at him with a puzzled look on her face, lips parted just slightly.

“But your scarf, you’ll–”

“Please, accept it, I don’t want you to freeze, baby.”

“But–!”

“Please. And with those beautiful cerulean blue eyes of his, Aurora was rendered powerless. Instead of letting another protest spill from her lips, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Artem.”

“Anything for you, love.”

“Want to go get something to drink?”

Absolutely.”

Artem and Aurora maneuver so now they can walk side by side, hands interlocked together while they made their way to his car. Just before they got there, Artem pressed a soft kiss to the birthmark under left eye, leaving Aurora flustered just before he opened his car door for her.

All she can do is fumble out a meek thank you before getting in. 

Loving Artem was even better than dancing, she decides with a smitten smile on her face. The entire ride to the cafe and then back home was spent lingering on his gentle touch, the lingering feeling of his kisses and the way he moves with her while they dance.

Loving Artem was actually her favorite. 

[softlycandescent]

𝑨𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒓𝒂 𝑳𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒙: 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒗𝒆

[𝖠𝗋𝗍𝖾𝗆 𝖶𝗂𝗇𝗀'𝗌 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖯𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗇𝖾𝗋]

𝑓𝑙𝜇𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝜄𝑐𝑠

1. Snowfallen Dance

2. Movies and My Beloved

𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑠

N/A

| playlist | | art gallery | | blossom story |

[softlycandescent]

𝖷𝗂𝖺𝗈𝗑𝗂 𝖰𝗂𝖺𝗇𝗀 : 𝖠𝗋𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗏𝖾

[𝖵𝗒𝗇 𝖱𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗍𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖲𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖾]

𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗳𝗳 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘀

1. Moment of Rest

2. May I Have This Dance

3. Winter Reverie

4. Gingerbread Crumbs

𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘀 

1. Near and Far

2. A Night to Remember

|playlist | | 𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗒 |  | 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗌𝗈𝗆 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗋𝗒 |

[softlycandescent]

𝑋𝑖𝑎𝑜𝑥𝑖 𝑄𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔

𝖷𝗂𝖺𝗈𝗑𝗂 𝖰𝗂𝖺𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗋𝖽 𝗀𝗋𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗍 𝖧𝖾𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖧𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝖤𝗅𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗒, 𝗈𝗐𝗇𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗌𝗍 𝗈𝖿 𝖧𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗒𝖻𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗒 𝖲𝗁𝗈𝗉𝗉𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌. 𝖷𝗂𝖺𝗈𝗑𝗂 𝗂𝗌 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗂𝖻𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝗋𝖺𝗒 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖾.

𝖧𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍: 𝟣𝟦𝟪 𝖼𝗆

𝖠𝗀𝖾: 𝟤𝟩

𝖡𝗂𝗋𝗍𝗁𝖽𝖺𝗒: 𝖩𝗎𝗇𝖾 𝟤𝟣

| 𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗏𝖾.|