"Goodness, aren't you just the most handsome boy!"
You coo at the purring bundle of fluff sprawled out at your feet, rolling happily amongst the leaves that have settled on the cobblestone pathway up to Ramshackle. Your fingers thread through a black-furred tummy, nearly caught by the playful cat that wriggles excitedly each time he catches you on your way home.
Your companion, who you were about to set off on a walk with, is slightly less pleased. He says nothing, but his lips are pulled into a pout. Tsunotarou seems to be more focused on you than the cat you're showering with affection. Something unfamiliar tugs at his chest. A childlike envy that a prince ought to be ashamed of having.
But something just felt wrong with your words. More specifically, the subject to which they were directed.
The heir to Briar Valley is cautious to reign in his emotions. That doesn't stop the light drizzle that begins to pour. You, ever-observant, are broken from your trance with the playful cat and look up to him. Your smile falters from worry- then quirks back into place as you snicker, noting the turn of his lips.
"Tsunotarou- are you jealous?"
"No."
Thunder booms. You can't help but laught at how silly the situation is, and the charm of your delight- no matter it's direction at him- makes Tsunotarou's chest flutter. He thinks to protest, insisting you not tease him, but thinks he'd be sad if you stopped, too.
"Sorry, I know I'm supposed to be spending time with you right now. Shall we get going?" Your consideration warms his heart. His tantrumous moods never last long when you're involved. Your company melts any dissatisfaction or distress he has away like his own fiery breath melts ice cream in his mouth. The delight thereafter is similar as well. Better, maybe. Definitely.
"You have done nothing wrong," he answers, smooth and cordial, relieved that you've given him a way out of the question so easily. The sun shower is over in moments as steady conversation settles in.
A troublesome little cat trails along behind, not quite ready to give up his source of affection to a dragon.
1K notes
·
View notes
In the musical, Jean Valjean and Javert's final confrontation is a climactic shouting match. But in the book it's different? Javert is obviously ridden with doubts from the moment he sees Jean Valjean, doubts he can't live with-- he's hesitant, uncertain, and passive. He speaks "as if in a dream," he dutifully asks the questions he's supposed to ask of criminals but doesn't hear any of Jean Valjean's answers, his mind is obviously wandering elsewhere, and he doesn't even verbally threaten to arrest Jean Valjean at all. He never says 'yes' to Jean Valjean's requests for favors, but he also never says 'no." It's like he's in so much confusion he's forgotten how an arrest is supposed to work.
It's fascinating how much Jean Valjean "takes the lead" throughout their final confrontation. Javert is busy short-circuiting like a malfunctioning robot, while Jean Valjean walks him through the "script" for how arresting criminals is supposed to go, reminding him of how arresting people is supposed to work, while Javert primarily just passively follows Jean Valjean's orders. Their conversation is literally just:
Javert: who is there?
Jean Valjean: it's me Jean Valjean
Javert: *Computer fans whirring, overheating, Windows error noise*
Jean Valjean: You are going to arrest me.
Javert: *bluescreen*
Jean Valjean: I am going to come quiety.
Javert: *404_file not found*
Jean Valjean: But first we are going to take Marius home
Javert: 01000001 01001000 01001000 01001000 01001000 01001000 01001000 01001000 00100000 01001001 00100111 01101101 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101111 01110101 01100111 01101000 01110100 01110011 00100000 01100001 01101110 01100100 00100000 01100110 01100101 01100101 01101100 01101001 01101110 01100111 01110011 00100000 01100110 01101111 01110010 0010
194 notes
·
View notes
Do u have croutons paw tattooed on you?
Ah no!!! It's the pawprint of my very first rat :-) I was actually planning on getting more rats before Croutons' waltzed into our lives but I can't complain, I love him lots
53 notes
·
View notes
Ghost is observant. He's always been, even before it was his job. It kept him safe, safe from his father's worst moods, safe from bullies at school, safe from the inevitable deterioration of all of his relationships.
So when Soap starts acting suspicious he feels his heart start to sink. He's a big enough person to admit that he's been selfish with Soap, allowed himself to indulge in genuine companionship; allowed something dangerous to develop. But what choice does he have? The thought of leaving now and denying himself the simple warmth of John MacTavish is almost a physical pain. So it should be a relief when Johnny starts to pull away, it saves Ghost from being the one to do it. But for once in his long trail of broken hearts and slowly withering relationships, Ghost doesn't want it to end.
So he clings on. He seeks him out more often, snaps and snarls at the thought of Soap going out of his sight. He lays there listening as Soap wakes with a haunted scream, internally wrestling with himself until he gathers the courage to cross the hall and knock, his cheeks heating when Soap answers the door in just his boxers. He kicks himself when Soap redirects and prepares to bow out and take the dismissal respectfully when Johnny offers to come and sit with him and his traitorous heart soars in his chest. Soap is giving him this and he'll take it with gratitude. They sit together in the rec room for hours, watching the fish sleep peacefully until Soap has drifted off and his tea is in danger of spilling in his limp hand. He briefly considers taking Johnny back to his room but he rationalizes that there is a reason the Soap didn't want him in there and it really isn't his business. So he sits there and he observes. Simply watching the slight rise and fall of Johnny's chest as he sleeps on the tattered couch. Indulging in the domesticity of it all.
When a knock jars him awake in the middle of the night he's unsure what he expects but Soap delirious and bleeding was certainly not on the top of that list. A small lick of pride flares inside of him that Soap would come to him before medical, which brings with it quiet concerns and many questions. Still he brings Johnny inside and sits him gently on his bed, stepping into his bathroom to quickly grab his personal first aid kit.
Soap is saying something when he gets back, so deep in his accent that it doesn't even register as words. Kneeling on the floor in front of him, Ghost reverently takes his arm and starts to wipe at it with a damp cloth. Cleaning away the blood with quiet fervor, unsure just what could inflict such a wound on his Sergeant at this hour of the night. When the wound is revealed he flinches back.
Ghost is intimately acquainted with snake bites, has several scars buried deep in his collection that match the marks on Soap's arm, stretched and warped as they are from where he's grown since he got them.
And this is from a big fucking snake.
He looks up to Soap meets his eyes suddenly deathly sober.
"Just how'd you get this Soap?"
257 notes
·
View notes