#VERSE. PRE FINIS.| M A C H I N A

[sentofight]

@rhyra​ liked for a starter

Machina was standing in the plaza area, looking at the fountain with the Vermillion Bird statue on top. “That scared me when I first came here ... I wonder why.” talking to himself, unbeknownst to the commander who was right behind him. 

[sentofight]

❇{ℒ𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽} Simply nodding in reply before speaking. “Mm, that’s alright. Sometimes it is difficult to choose a favorite. Sometimes it’s best to not have one at all,” Naiko replied with a small smile after taking a bite. The food here was well done and that made sense when those who attended here are cadets and generals, got to keep them nice and healthy so that they would be ready for the battle field. “Very interesting flavors. I can see the difference with it when I think of the meals back at home,” the Xeala Auri added after taking another bite and sip from her beverage.

 “I can’t say that I am into sea food, but I won’t lie that there is something to appreciate it,” she commented. That was her take on the that kind of meal; wasn’t her exactly the thing she likes all that much, but didn’t say anything negative about it being done.

 Naiko’s head tilted to the side a bit, trying to figure out what her favorite meal could be. “Well I do like sweets, so I would say Rollanberry Cheesecake,” she replied. If there was something that the Xeala Auri was always looking forward to, it was the deserts. Those were always the best moments in her eyes.

@stories-in-song​

“I know, right?” he let out a low chuckle. Of course, he has favorite things like...like.. chocobos! Chocobos are his favorite animals--of companions actually. “Good thing that the master behind these dishes does not let us get used to these flavors for long time. They keep changing the menu from time to time, keeping things more interesting heh.” the last season menu was so spicy, he did not dare to step into the ready room for the whole season. Ughh..spicy food. 

“It has its fans,” he nodded to her comment. He likes eating fish but not too much, as any other thing. “Sweets huh. You can’t go wrong with some after a big mission.” hmm...now he might be craving something sweet. After all, they did return from a mission not too long ago. “I recommend the flan cake, not too sweet and gives you the right energy.” which he is going to order one. 

[sentofight]

@heartfated​​ | closed starter continuation | troubled heart

     he  is  so  close,    right  here,    right  next  to  her.    and  yet,    he  feels  as  if  he’s  a  million  miles  away.    as  if  a  universe  is  separating  them,    physically,    mentally.    it  reminds  her  of  the  time  where  she  lost  him  the  very  first  time,    reminds  her  of  the  years  she’s  had  to  spend  away  from  him,    unbeknownst  to  his  whereabouts;    whether  he  was  alive  or  not.    the  worry  and  guilt  she’s  felt  all  these  years  starts  to  seep  in  yet  again,    catches  up  on  feelings  she’s  been  trying  to  abanon  all  this  time.    

     because  things  are    .  .  .    fine.    are  they  not?    they’ve  been  just  that  since  their  reunion  –  fine.    mayhaps,    a  bit  too  fine.    mayhaps,    rem  should  have  been  more  attentive  of  him,    of  his  feelings,    of  his  actions.    again,    she  feels  guilty,    despite  having  no  solid  or  palpable  reason  to  do  so.

     “ machina  .  .  . ”    shaky  voice  hints  she  is  trying  her  very  best  not  to  let  negative  emotions  overwhelm  her.    she  doesn’t  know  what  happened  in  those  few  days  he  was  absent;    doesn’t  know  what  he  possibly  experienced,    what  those  once  lively  eyes  saw.    but  she  does  know  her  machina  is  still  somewhere  in  those  eyes  she  loves  to  get  lost  in;    she  does  know  he  needs  her.

     dainty  hands  reach  up,    careful,    slow,    cup  her  boyfriend’s  cheeks  so  very  tenderly,    with  all  the  care  in  the  world.    “ machina. ”    she  says  again,    softer,    stronger.    he  looks  as  if  he’s  losing  himself  in  something  unknown  and  she  leans  closer,    closer,    her  lips  near  his  own,    the  tip  of  her  nose  brushing  against  his.    “ you’re  machina.    kunagiri  machina.    you  grew  up  in  a  village  with  me.    you’ve  always  been  protecting  me. ”    she  tells  him,    softly,    gingerly,    fingertips  caressing  along  cold  flesh.

      “ i  used  to  be  a  little  taller  than  you,    but  then  you  surpassed  me  by  a  lot. ”    a  little  titter.    “ now,    you’re  a  proud  cadet  of  class  zero.    it’s  an  impressive  feat.    you’re  really  strong  and  really  brave.    so  much  stronger  than  you  think.     you’re  my  boyfriend  now,    too.    remember  how  you  asked  me  out  on  the  balcony  under  the  moonlight?    it  was  really  romantic,    and  i’m  really  happy  to  have  you.    because,    i  love  you,    kunagiri  machina. ” 

     heartfelt  words  spill  from  her  lungs,    rosy  tiers  soon  leaving  a  benign  kiss  upon  lips  she’s  always  longing  to  kiss.    the  only  lips  she  will  ever  want  to  feel  against  her  own. 

     “ so,    stay  with  me,    okay?    machina. ”

Had he done things differently, they would not be in this situation. Rem and himself should not be in this room, awkwardly tip toeing around each other like this; they should be outside! Like they always did. Walking hand in hand, laughing and giggling, exchanging sweet words. Bad attempts at flirting from Kunagiri to win the girl over, again and again. Getting distracted by the sight of the yellow birds and running towards them to hug them to Rem’s surprise. Just...their usual life. 

Machina flinched to her gentle touch to his face (ah..she was not . . . going to hurt him...but why he thought that? . . . ) His lips parted but no words came out. She called his name, right? He is...Machina Kunagiri. He felt the air chocked in his throat when Rem got closer to him. She’s so bright...so warm...He cannot maintain eye contact with her but her hold to his cheeks does not help him look away. His jaw clenched as she retold him the things he is supposed to know; his identity. How can someone forget ...things like that. “Machina....Kunagiri...” he whispered to himself. They grew up together in a village...the village? Ah... That...fire. 

“I...used to be taller . . .?” oh, he recall that. He does. But look at them now, he is much taller than her. Upon mention of being a cadet in class zero, his face twisted in a pained expression. Class Zero . . .Class Zero . . . She says he is stronger but he knows very well he is not. If he was truly strong then he could have protected her! protect the academy! protected rubrum! Fists clenched to his side, recalling every time he tried to do anything, Class Zero were better at--the gap is painful and he is aware of it. 

“..--!“ Eyes darted back at her own eyes when she said he is her boyfriend. He confessed to her...right. His cheeks dusted in a rosy hue when he recalled that day. The many hours he spent researching the best way to confess his love for her. He knew she knew that he loved her but he didn’t want to shrink from expressing his love to her. She deserve an epic confession moment. He liked the balcony, and it is kind of secluded at that time of the night, so it is kind of the best private area for a love confession. He remembers how he felt--excited and happy, and how her face lit up when he expressed how much he wants his childhood wish to become true--Rem being his wife. Machina arched his head downward ...she loves him. He loves her but is he enough for her? She deserve better--someone stronger...but he loves her--HE LOVES HER A LOT.

Her warmth pressed ever pleasantly against his lips. His body reacted, instead of love and affection to swell in his heart, FEAR clouded it. Despite that, he found himself yearning for them more, fighting that urge to push her away, very far away from him at this moment--he’s not the machina she knows! He...he betrayed them! Knowing Rem, who loves Rubrum more than anything in this world, would be disappointed in him for taking the enemy’s l’Cie’s focus. He is disappointed in himself more than anyone else but it is necessary to be stronger! Far stronger than class zero! than the whole world!

“With you...” eyebrows knitted in a worried expression. “Do you...really want me to be with you?” he bit his lower lip, stop it! Stop it! You cannot tell her! You cannot tell her you have betrayed her!

“...Rem... I ...” as soon he was about to tell her, he felt the voices in his head grow louder-- FULFUL YOUR FOCUS, l’CIE! YOUR FOCUS! DESTROY THE CRYSTAL. --” Nggh--!!” his right hand pressed against face, wincing due to the sudden pain. “Rem...” he has to tell her. Perhaps she can make everything go away, this pain, his sadness, everything...

“That day...--...keh....I...I found the White Tiger’s l’Cie...and...” the words died away as he suddenly stopped talking. His head arched down as if a puppet its battery was pulled out. A few seconds passed by and he looked up to her again, emotionless. Whatever he was about to tell her is forgotten, “... It’s late. You should return to your room to rest up.” in the most detached tone she could ever hear. “I will walk you there. Come on.” 

[sentofight]

--machina’s tags

IN CHARACTER.| M A C H I N A

ANSWER.| M A C H I N A

MUSING.| M A C H I N A

AESTHETIC.| M A C H I N A

OPEN STARTER.| M A C H I N A

BUILDING UP.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. PRE FINIS.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. POST FINIS.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. POST WAR.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. AGITO.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. WHAT IF.| M A C H I N A

VERSE. DFFOO.| M A C H I N A

CRACK.| M A C H I N A

SHIP. BECAUSE YOU HAVE FAITH IN ME. machina x deuce.| M A C H I N A

SHIP. YOUR LOVE TURNED THE DARKNESS OF MY FEAR TO LIGHT. machina x rem.| M A C H I N A