#APH OZ

[apersonwholikeslotus]

y'know as much as I love reading about Alfred snapping at Admiral Lord Father I want Matthieu to, just once. I want him to rip William a brand new one because he did something stupid, and he put someone in danger (bonus points: the someone in danger wasn't Oz or Zee); and I want everyone to be surprised by it that lil ol' Mattie who usually just sits in the corner and broods when mad at his dad just Snaps. I want him to tell William to fuck off the face of the planet and then side eye him for 2 weeks to 6 months. I need it.

[thesupernaturalhouse]

Mystreet au on the brain so here's a summary if the au:

So, the basics are that once Eins mom killed herself, cps called Sylvanna, considering Aphmau was his half-sister and stuff. And she ends up adopting him. This changes a whole bunch of things, and Ein is a wet cat of a werewolf and is very protective if his 'goodest of boys' title

Also, him and aph shenanigans. He's supposed to stop boys from talking to her...he does not, the manz be a double agent *snoop dog meme music*

He does try and fight Aarron because *protective elder brother, even if only by like 3 months* aphmau has to stop them from fighting, by dragging Ein away while he makes threats that he doesn't mean

He is also terrified of Katelynn. They fight like toddlers, btw. I think it's kacey who he attacks in canon, right? Yeah, their bffs in this au, "your sister scares me" "she scares everybody! Including me!" *whimper*

Aphmau and Ein constantly argue about theory about- any show, doesn't matter rif it's a wizard of oz or mlp. Sylvanna once asked what the big deal was, and they turned on her. She was and still is, SO confused...regular movie night everybody-

The au is mainly based on 'if Ein was adopted dby aphmaus mom and they grew up tigetehr' whoch is why I have a lot of ideas mainly on him in this au because, it doesn't center on him, but the main change is him you know? Doesn't matter to much

I'll be happy to expand in the au btw, please send asks- I am bored and wanna talk about this au

Doesn't matter rif it's about Ein or aphmau or KC or katelynn- ask away please-

[spacenutspod]

On January 3rd, 2019, China’s Chang’e-4 lander touched down on the far side of the Moon and deployed the Yutu rover. In addition to its many instruments, the rover carried an important science experiment known as the Biological Experiment Payload (BEP). Over the next eight days, this payload conducted a vital experiment where it attempted to grow the first plants on the Moon. Included in the payload were cotton, potato, arabidopsis, and rape seeds, along with fly eggs, yeast, and 18 ml (0.6 fluid oz) of water, which was kept at a constant atmospheric pressure. The results of this experiment will help inform future Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS), which will prove vital to habitats and missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). A team of scientists from China recently released a study that reviewed the experiment, its results, and its potential implications for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and other deep-space locations. As they concluded, the experiment demonstrated that plants can grow on the Moon despite the intense radiation, low gravity, and prolonged intense light. The team consisted of researchers from the Center of Space Exploration, the College of Aerospace Engineering, and the Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Breeding for Tuber and Root Crops at Chongqing University, as well as the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and the Laboratory of Space Biology at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Chengdu. The results of their analyses were shared in two papers that appeared on June 20th in Microgravity Science and Technology and on October 17th in Acta Astronautica, respectively. China’s Chang’e-4 lander on the lunar surface. Image Credit: CNSA/CLEP Plants… in SPAAAAACE! Growing plants in lunar, Martian, and space habitats is essential for many reasons. In addition to providing a source of nutrition and reducing the need for resupply missions, they will also remove carbon dioxide and provide fresh oxygen, help recycle waste, and contribute to the crews’ sense of well-being. And whereas conventional Environmental Control and Life-Support Systems (ECLSS) rely on mechanical components that eventually break down and require replacement, a bioregenerative system can replenish itself over time. This makes BLSS technology ideal for missions to deep space where opportunities to resupply will be few and far between. For years, astronauts have conducted experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) involving plant growth and algae – such as the Vegetable Production System (Veggie), the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS), the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), and the Plant Habitat Avionics Real-time Manager (PHARM). However, it is still uncertain how the natural environment of extraterrestrial bodies will affect the function of a BLSS. Lead author Xie Gengxin, a Professor of environmental engineering at the Center of Space Exploration, Chongqing University, is also the chief designer of the BEP. As he explained to Universe Today via email, the ability to cultivate plants in space is a necessary step toward establishing bases beyond Earth: “When establishing a survival base on the Moon, Mars, and other extraterrestrial planets, it is impossible to transport more things from the Earth. The need for in-situ use of resources for the production of oxygen and food is particularly important and is the first step to establishing a survival base, so plant planting experiments are very important.” Image taken from inside the Earth-based control experiment on January 7th, 2019. Credit: CNSA/Chongqing University The First Biological Experiment The BEP payload, developed at Chongqing University, was the first biological experiment conducted by humans on the far side of the Moon. The purpose of the experiment was to assess the effects of lunar surface conditions (low gravity, intense radiation, and intense light) on the growth and health of terrestrial organisms. The payload weighed 2.608 kg (5.75 lbs) and measured 198 mm in height and 173 mm in diameter (7.75 by 6.8 inches), offering a total volume of 0.82 liters and 0.42 liters of bio-activity space. Sunlight was admitted through a guide tube, allowing photosynthesis for the plants inside. These six components constituted the producers, consumers, and decomposers, all the elements necessary for a functioning ecosystem. The plants were to produce oxygen and nutrients through photosynthesis and be sustained by the fruit flies. Meanwhile, the yeast would act as a decomposition agent, processing waste from the flies and dead plants to create additional nutrients for the ecosystem. As Xie said, this experiment was the first of its kind and was meant to address concerns scientists had about the lunar environment: “Before our experiment, many scientists were worried that plants could not sprout under the intense light intensity and intense radiation conditions of the Moon, so we deliberately used the natural sunlight on the Moon for photosynthesis rather than artificial light. At the same time, our biological payloads were not designed to protect against radiation, proving that plants can still grow under the Moon’s intense radiation conditions.” Within a few hours of the lander reaching the surface, the biosphere’s temperature was adjusted to 24 °C (75.2 °F), and the seeds were watered. On January 15th, it was reported that cottonseed, rapeseed, and potato seeds had sprouted, and images of the BEP’s interior were released. “There are animals, plants, and microorganisms in this payload, creating a micro-ecosystem in a closed environment,” said Xie Gengxin at the time. “We guide the sunlight to the inside of the tin, which is much stronger than that on the Earth. We will study their photosynthesis under strong sunlight and compare it with the experiment on the Earth.” Visualization of the ILRS from the CNSA Guide to Partnership (June 2021). Credit: CNSA Results On the following day, the experiment entered a new phase as lunar night set in, external temperatures dropped to -52 °C (-62 °F), and the experiment failed to maintain a comfortable temperature. As temperatures continued to drop, eventually reaching -190 °C (-310 °F), the experiment continued to test the longevity of the BEP. Eventually, it was reported that the sprouted plants had died, that the potatoes failed to sprout, and that the fruit flies failed to hatch. The total run time for the experiment was nine days instead of the planned 100. But as Xie indicated, valuable information was obtained. Said Xi: “Although our plants can grow in the natural sunlight and radiation conditions of the Moon, the safety of these plants has not been evaluated. Whether it is healthy or not needs further research. Our experiments also show how difficult it is to survive on the Moon and how to survive the lunar night. Our first biological experiments on the Moon for humankind fully demonstrate that a regenerative ecosystem can be built on the Moon to establish a human base.” In less than two years, NASA plans to put astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo Era. China hopes to do the same by sending the first taikonauts to the Moon’s southern polar region by 2030. The long-term aims of these and other agencies – like the ESA, Roscosmos, and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) – are nothing short of establishing a permanent human outpost on the Moon that will enable research, exploration, international cooperation, and missions to deep space. A key aspect of this will be using local resources to meet crews’ needs. One of the best ways of ensuring a steady supply of food, breathable air, and crew health (physical and mental) is to build habitats that can accommodate greenhouses and plant experiments. In short, astronauts must bring elements of Earth’s biosphere with them to live, work, and thrive in extraterrestrial environments. The lessons of this research will help pave the way for anyone who intends to follow. Further Reading: Acta Astronautica, Microgravity Science and Technology The post China Set Up a Tiny Farm on the Moon in 2019. How Did it Do? appeared first on Universe Today.

[littleblackqrow]

16, 21, 33

what’s your NOTP when it comes to your muse?

I cant believe I have to say this, but none of Qrow with any of his kiddos. RWBY, JNOR, anyone in their age grouping is off the table. If someone could have been his student, he is not interested. Also, I'm not a fan of Oz/Qrow. I view that relationship as purely mentor/mentee, and again the power dynamic creates icky vibes.

what’s something that immediately turns you off from shipping with someone?

I really am not a fan when everything in the ship ends up being about fucking. I love it when muses cannot keep their hands off each other. But not everything should revolve around the bedroom. I also dont like the ship becoming purely about one character's angst, or another character's desire to fix the person. If there's nothing dynamic to the types of threads we do, I lose interest really fast.

what’s the first ship you played?

The very first ship I ever rp'd was a hetalia ship. I logged onto Omegle and started a aph!France x aph!America rp. dont fucking judge me, it was 2012.

[aphaskengland-bitter-tea-drinker]

( audio from it’s always sunny in Philadelphia

[moomeo]

u cant tell me that oz and nz dont do scrumpy hands in their spare time

toxic drinking culture who?

[askoz]

what's your relationship with new zealand?

they rivals

[nz design belongs to @scrambledbabychickens! thank u.. i love him with my whole heart..]

[finn-cipher]

Hetaween Day 7- Fairy Tale plus Bonus Comic!! I love the Wizard of OZ @hetaween-hetaliaevent

[askamericaandlithuania]

Do you two have anything cherished as a gift that you received from the other?

Lithuania: All though I cherish every gift Alfred has given me, the first birthday gift he ever gave me is one of my most prized possessions. It was during my first year working for him and he took me out for the day. We stopped at a bookshop and he told me to choose whatever I want and he would get it for me. I ended up choosing a copy of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." It was one the nicest things anyone had ever done for me at the time.

Alfred: I cherish every gift Tolys has given me.

Lithuania: Yeah...he displays all of them in some way and tells the stories of when he got them over and over to our friends.

 Alfred: I can’t help it that I’m proud that I’m your boyfriend.

Lithuania: I never said it was an issue. I-It just makes me flustered sometimes.

America: But if I had to choose a favorite, it would be the teddy bear Tolys won for me on our second date. That whole day was as if we were in a movie!

[gwens-kin-requests]

cryptogender nblm icons for tamaki amajiki (bnha), canada (hetalia), oz (monster prom) and sayori (ddlc) 💙

[jacqueline-lindsdell]

If your still taking asks for the drabbles could you do something with brotherly America and Australia? if you don't want to don't worry about it! btw your blog is great

I’m sorry this took so long! I spent awhile playing around with the idea and I had so much fun with it! I love getting to write characters just having fun with each other and so the brothers concept works so well. I couldn’t imagine this scenario without Canada, so i hope you don’t mind that he’s included! ((And thank you for complimenting my blog- feel free to come off anon and message me!)) Also, the fork thing? Based on personal experience, my sister and i forked our friend’s yard once and they still don’t know it was us.

It wasn’t supposed to be a two-shot but I lack self control so here we go 

*****

“Right. You’re definitely doing that wrong.”

“Shut up! I know how to tp a house bro.”

“He’s right America, that’s not going to work.”

America jumped, “Jesus Matt, don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I’ve been right here the whole time.” Canada sighed and rolled his eyes, then let another paper roll loose in the trees. “Alfred, why don’t you put the forks in the yard? Oz and I can handle the trees.” Alfred eagerly picked up the box of forks and set to work stabbing them in the ground, laughing wildly.

Australia groaned, “Oi! I swear to Christ if you wake him I’ll stab you with one of those.”

He stuck his tongue out and grabbed another fork. “Listen. England’s like, the heaviest sleeper I know, it’ll be fine! Stop worrying.” Australia and Canada shared a look before continuing their work on the house and trees, while America happily arranged the forks. He put the last one in the ground and stepped back to appraise his work. “Check it out guys! England’s totally going to flip when he reads what I-” he was cut off by a bright light on the porch turning on. Australia chucked the last of the paper over his shoulder and took off for his truck with Alfred close on his heels.

They were breathless with laughter, clambering in like their lives depended on it. Oz didn’t miss a beat- the second he was in the driver’s seat, keys were in the ignition, and they were off.

“DUDE THAT WAS SO CRAZY. I bet England is losing his SHIT right now.”

Australia laughed in response, “Wicked close, huh? Can’t wait to hear about it at the next meeting. Ice cream next?”

“Hell yeah dude! Midnight ice cream is the best!”

They rode in silence for a few seconds, relishing in the adrenaline and laughter. Then Australia spoke again, “I gotta say mate, I feel like I’m forgetting something. I grabbed my hat didn’t I?”

“Yeah, it’s right here. We just left the stuff behind.” There was another beat of silence before America finally gasped. “Oh shit man, didn’t we bring Canada?” Oz cursed loudly and immediately u-turned. They were barreling down the road back towards England’s house when they came across Canada jogging down the side of the road. America didn’t even wait for the truck to come to a complete stop, just flung the door open, and yanked him in.

“You guys-” *huff* “are” *huff* “complete assholes!” Canada leaned against the window, trying to catch his breath. America thumped him on the back, laughing.

“Chill out! We only forgot you for like five seconds!”

Canada glared back at him, “England could’ve seen me!”

Australia cackled, pushing his foot harder on the accelerator. “Don’t think so mate. You’ve got a knack for being invisible. Did you see him though?”

“Yeah, I did.” A grin was beginning to crack through Matthew’s annoyed expression. “Wish I’d gotten a picture. He came running out raising all sorts of hell. You know he still wears those old man pajamas?”

Alfred and Australia both yelled at the same time.

“You’re kidding!”

“No fucking way!”

And finally, Canada laughed and relaxed in his seat. “I’m not. The nightcap and everything. He looked like Ebenezer Scrooge.” They all laughed and Oz reached past Alfred to pat him on the shoulder.

“You did good Matt. We’re going to get ice cream to celebrate.”

***

Early the next morning in their hotel room, Alfred’s phone rang.

“Al.” Matt murmured, shoving him weakly. “Al answer your phone.” Alfred only replied with a groan. “Alfred.” Matthew’s voice was louder. “Your phone.”

Australia threw a pillow from the other bed, “Alfred answer the damn phone I’m trying to sleep!” When no response came, Oz finally got up and answered the phone himself. He couldn’t even get a greeting out before he heard the shouting. “Yeah Al, you’ve gotta take this.”

Finally Alfred blindly grabbed for the phone and put it to his ear. “What?”

“ALFRED F JONES YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE PRICK. I RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THIS.” Alfred winced, pulling the phone from his ear a bit.

“Yo, England, dude. Don’t know what you’re talking about. Also trying to sleep.”

“Don’t play coy with me, I know it was you! You’d better march yourself over here this instant and clean up my yard!”

Alfred laughed anxiously, “Seriously Artie, dunno what you’re talking about.”

“DON”T YOU ‘ARTIE’ ME.” England let out a long stream of curses before continuing, “My home is covered in toilet paper and the phrase ‘Viva la France’ is written out in my yard in forks!”

“Then why are you calling me?! Obviously it was France who did it! We both know he totally likes pissing you off every chance he gets.” Matthew snorted at that and buried his face in his pillow.

There was a beat of silence. “France is spelled with a C not an S, you asshat. Now come clean up this mess.”

“Oh uh haha, my boss is calling. Gotta go man!” Alfred desperately ended the call despite England’s loud protests, then turned off his phone for good measure.

Canada was laughing into the pillows and Australia stared incredulously from the foot of the bed.  “You fucking misspelled France?”

[aphchinass]

I woke up this morning thinking about your blog, and its honestly so good. You've got a great sense of humour and a really memorable art style.

Hhhhh tysm~!! I don’t deserve y’all 😭 the Hetalia fandom has been making me happy for years, I’m glad to know I’m making good contributions

[feynavaley]

Tag Game

I was tagged by @shinysteph, thank you! 😊

Rules: Name 10 favourite characters from 10 different things.

There surely are other characters but here are ten of them (in no particular order):

Canada from Hetalia;

Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia;

The Fool from the Realm of the Elderlings saga;

Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon;

Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings;

Luke Skywalker from Star Wars;

Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender;

Hikari Yagami from Digimon Adventure;

Oz Vessalius from Pandora Hearts;

Dick Grayson from DC Comics.

———

I tag anybody who feels like doing this! 😊

[monabela]

aaaand one more for eeweek, because the more I think about this pairing, the more I think it’s really cute & good! don’t let that whole bunch of characters scare you, they’re all just mentioned, and this is just a fun little thought process I had.

rules of engagement

characters/pairings: Estonia (Eduard)/Monaco (Olympe), and a bunch of mentioned characters - Hungary (Erzsébet), Romania (Dragos), Finland (Tuomi), France (Francis), Switzerland (Basch), Seychelles (Angélique), Lithuania (Tolys), Belarus (Nadzeya), Russia (Ivan), Romano (Lovino), Portugal (Simão), Greece (Herakles)

word count: 2277 summary: Eduard was prepared for many things while organizing his wedding to Olympe. He had not counted on seating arrangements being the most difficult part.

Really, Eduard had been prepared for many things when he proposed to Olympe. Up to and including a rejection, because you never know, with her. Olympe always seems to have a plan ready, and it wasn’t unthinkable that marriage just wasn’t in that plan, or wasn’t yet. He took the chance anyway, and she said yes, which is amazing.

So, he was prepared to have a stressful time organizing the wedding, because both he and Olympe are perfectionists, and Olympe’s family is… Something. Old money that they are, he expected a million traditions he’d need to adhere to, expected to need to learn how to actually dance a waltz instead of just hoping not to step on any feet during their first dance, expected meddling from all sides.

What he had not prepared for, was seating arrangements. Because he has a small family, and most of their gatherings are informal, even the weddings, and he also didn’t think the friends he wanted to invite would cause trouble.

Apparently, he thought wrong.

“We absolutely cannot seat them near each other,” Olympe is saying, tiredly, sliding the name cards for his sister and her umpteenth distant cousin to opposite ends of the table. “They shouldn’t even be in each other’s sight if we can help it. They have this feud.”

“Why don’t I know about this?” Eduard asks, scrunching his nose enough that he dislodges his glasses. He takes them off to rub the bridge of his nose.

“Because Erzsébet possesses some semblance of common sense, which my terrible cousin unfortunately lacks, so he’s very proud of having an enemy.” She gently picks up his glasses and pushes them back on his face. “I need your brain for this, love.”

“How about we just don’t invite this—” he looks at the card— “Dragos?”

“Oh, no. I’d love to, but I’m not convinced he won’t show up and curse my firstborn.”

“That’s…” He blinks. It never ceases to amaze him how odd her mother’s side of the family is. Olympe quirks a small smile, lips glittering in the sunlight streaming into their kitchen, the table of which they’ve temporarily transformed into a seating chart.

Or, well, temporarily. It has been there for two days now, being shuffled occasionally between work and the other things they have to take care of.

“Don’t worry about him,” Olympe is saying. “He’s alright, just… A little strange.”

“You said that about your brother as well.”

“So did you, about yours, and he asked me if I wanted to see his rifle collection the first time we met. Which reminds me…” She hovers an elegant hand over the table until she spots the card she’s looking for. “If we put Tuomi near Basch, we will have a shootout on our hands by the end of dinner.”

Eduard frowns. “Who even is—”

“He’s not related to me, strictly speaking, that’s my stepfather’s side of the family, but he loves weddings, so he’ll be there.” She considers this, tapping the name card against her chin. “He loves free food, and Francis loves weddings, so he told him about it. There hasn’t been one for a while.”

With that big of an extended family, that seems unlikely, but then, Eduard wouldn’t know the first thing about that. It’s always just been him and his siblings at home, and any cousins he has are so far removed, either in relation or age, that he barely knows them.

“Well, there was Angélique,” she continues in an absent tone of voice, “but she, of course, eloped.”

“Can’t we do that?” he asks, only mostly joking, and she smiles up at him, eyebrows furrowing. On the table, she puts one of her small hand over one of his, tucking her fingers between his knuckles. Her engagement ring catches the light and glitters at him. Eduard hadn’t planned on getting her one—it’s, again, not something his family has ever done—but her half-brother Francis caught wind of his plan to propose somehow, and strong-armed him into using a family heirloom to do so.

Olympe immediately recognized her brother’s hand in it, of course, but she’d been charmed by it, even if she did have to have the beautiful ring sized down to have it fit on her dainty fingers. Every time Eduard catches sight of it, his heart skips a beat. He can’t even imagine what it will be like when she is wearing a wedding ring. He foresees a lot of flubbed keystrokes whenever they play the piano quatre-mains. Olympe probably won’t have that problem. She is always more composed than he is.

“Well, no eloping then,” he sighs, and she laughs softly, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear and tapping the side of her glasses in thought.

“I still don’t have an RSVP from Angélique, actually. They’re still traveling, trying to save an endangered shark species or whatnot. I do hope she comes. She’s a delight to have around.”

Having met Angélique, the cousin in question, once, Eduard thinks he might agree. She seemed nice and upbeat. This was a bit of a problem, since they did meet at a funeral, but it would be appreciated at a wedding.

“Oh, wait, there’s another problem,” he remembers.

“Oh, dear.”

“Yeah. Tolys is afraid of Nadzeya.”

Now, it’s her turn to blink owlishly up at him.

“Tolys is— Your best friend is afraid of my maid of honor?” She taps her fingers on the back of his hand. “Well, I suppose she can be intimidating when you first meet her, but…”

“He tried to ask her out. Twice. She said no.”

“Well, surely that isn’t so bad—”

“He also said she had a knife?”

“Oh. Oh, Nadzeya, no…” Olympe clasps a hand over her mouth, expression caught between amused and horrified. “She does have… A fondness.”

“Keep both Tolys and Tuomi away from her, then. Erzsébet should love her.”

“Good. They can still be at the same table, then, so long as we don’t put Nadz across from Tolys…” She begins shuffling the name cards around, leaving only their parents in the same place. “How is this?”

“Yes, that… Hold on, no. Your brother’s husband can’t be next to Tuomi.” He shudders. His brother had tried to fight Ivan Braginsky-Bonnefoy the first and only time they met. Eduard has never asked why and has no intention of ever doing so, certain that he is better off left in the dark about this.

Quickly, he switches Tuomi’s card with his mother’s. It’s the best option, he thinks, even if it does mean Tuomi is now between their sets of parents. Maybe they can keep an eye on him. Olympe hums, then moves him again, switching her mother out this time.

“There we go. Unless he’s tried to fight your sister too.”

Eduard laughs. “Tried, and succeeded, but it’ll be okay.”

Although Tuomi is now very close to Nadzeya, only Erzsébet separating them, he thinks that’s a risk he’s willing to take. Erzsébet can talk a lot. Finally, it’s beginning to look acceptable…

“No! Fuck, Olympe, we forgot ourselves!”

She throws her hands up helplessly. “Give me strength. Do you want to be next to your parents or not?” She scribbles their names on extra pieces of paper, writing Eduard Mets-Castil on his and Olympe Castil-Mets on her own. It makes Eduard smile. She isn’t the sort of woman who is very affectionate most of the time, or very obvious about her feelings in other ways—nor is he that sort of man—but it’s little things like this that make it clear every time how much this means to her.

How much he means to her.

Shuffling the cards until they finally make sense, she smiles down at their completed work. Well, completed table. The only table that makes sense.

“The rest of this is literally all your family.” Eduard squints at several names he has never heard before.

“I know,” Olympe says, long-suffering.

“Don’t tell me there’s more feuds.”

“Well, Lovino doesn’t like Francis, but that is already taken care of this way, so he should be happy… I don’t think anyone actually likes Dragos, not since they all had that fight about how he doesn’t like garlic—oh, I just remembered, he and Nadzeya tried to summon a demon at my birthday once, so we mustn’t have any candles.”

“I think I see why no one likes him.”

“Right, and then Simão mustn’t be near Angélique, should she come, because he saw fit to marry her foster father…”

“Excuse me?”

“They are close in age, should it help, but it has made everything rather awkward.”

“Is that why she eloped?” he asks faintly.

Biting her lip, Olympe shrugs at him in that measured way that she has.

“Right, of course. Simão and his husband can go with Dragos.”

“Oh, no, they actually aren’t married anymore.” She shakes her head when he pulls a face at her, a hint of amusement peeking through in the twitching corner of her lips. “It didn’t help the awkwardness. But Simão can certainly sit with Dragos, that will be fine.”

Eduard shuffles the cards, trying to keep that table out of his sister’s line of sight. It’s a good thing he likes puzzles. Next to him, Olympe sighs, ruffling the cards already in position.

“I’m sorry my family is such a burden. I hardly know many of them, but if I don’t invite them…”

“They’ll curse us and our hypothetical children?”

She shrugs again, uncharacteristically, and Eduard turns to her in his chair, reaching for her hands. He folds them both between his own, the ring on her finger warm against his palm. Olympe looks up at him, dark blue eyes still apologetic behind her gold-rimmed glasses. There is a small smudge of mascara on her eyelid. She wouldn’t go out with that, perfectionist that she is, and he is somehow honored that he can look at it.

For a quiet moment, he searches for the right words for what he wants to say. Olympe waits patiently, steadily holding his gaze like she’s so good at. He used to find it unnerving.

“You know why I want to marry you?” he asks, after a long moment.

“Certainly not because of my family.”

“Well, I do like Herakles. He’s very nice, and smart.”

“Not the other side of the family, then.” She draws her eyebrows together, smiling ruefully.

“No, of course. I want to marry you because I think… You understand me.” He strokes his fingers over the outside of her slender wrist, where her skin is slightly paler because she’s usually wearing her watch, busy as she is. “Because, somehow, we managed to find a reason not to work ourselves to exhaustion every day in each other, and that is a tall order. We both know that.”

She laughs a little, shaking her head so that her long hair tumbles over her shoulders. That is another one of these things that Eduard is aware she rarely shows to anyone else. Her hair out of its usual stylish but practical braids and updos. He lets go of her hands to lean forward, resting one hand on her thigh and using the other to touch her jaw softly, pushing her hair away.

“And, you know, maybe I’m a romantic deep down,” he continues, “so I want to make that official.”

“Eduard, I know you’re a romantic. You’ve composed no less than five songs for me.”

He grins, and she smiles in return. He is still working on the piece for their opening dance—it has to be perfect. More than perfect.

“What I’m saying is, I want to marry you for you, and you’re worth putting up with your cousins… Summoning a demon, or having a shootout with my brother, or whatever they come up with. All that matters is I walk out of there able to call you my wife, and they can’t ruin that.”

“I don’t know how you do this, sometimes,” Olympe says, wonderingly, briefly touching the hand lingering on her jaw.

“What?”

She puts her hand on top of his on her thigh, long nails tapping a brief rhythm on his wrist.

“Know what to say to me.”

“Practice,” he replies. “I’m sure you remember how often I put my foot in my mouth when we’d just met. I was very intimidated by you. Tuomi will bring it up at the wedding.”

At that, she laughs a light, happy laugh, then leans up and gently presses her glossy lips to the corner of his mouth.

“Thank you, then, for sticking with me. I know it isn’t my strongest suit to say things… Things like this, at least, but for what it’s worth, of course I feel the same.” Now, she puts a hand on his chest briefly, a small warm point mirroring the sunlight on his back. There are flecks of gold in her eyes in this light, and Eduard thinks about how those colors might sound on a piano.

“That’s worth a lot, Olympe.”

Because she’s a woman of action first and foremost—and sometimes that action is diplomatic speech, but there is a world of difference between that and this—so he knows she sometimes forgets to say things.

“Good.” She swipes some hair away from his forehead, tutting. He laughs, captures her hand, and kisses the inside of her wrist before letting go.

Olympe nods, and they both turn back to the table, because if there is anything they’re good at, it’s getting work done, and they have a hell of a task to finish.

[chibiclem]

From my Hetalia x Pandora hearts excessive cross-over!

I’ve made all pictures separately and well, I post them there if you prefer one specificaly and without the text! ^^

[ask-miraculous-nyochina]

HECC YEA! IM SO PROUD OF YOU! YOU GO UNCOVER THOSE CORRUPTIONS GIRL!!!

(”Thank you. I’ll do my best to get the truth from stubborn right-wingers.”)

“Thankfully, most of the politicians I need to book interviews with are not ministers, mostly National Assembly members. Not to mention I’ve been intermittently working on small sections of the story, I just need to stitch everything together. But getting a meeting with VdR’s higher ranking members is gonna be difficult.”